During the first long run in franchise history, a player and a pick acquired by the Whalers turned into big pieces for the 2002 Carolina Hurricanes.
When a team is a contender, the goal is to find a trade that will immediately help the team succeed in the playoffs, like at the trade deadline. Other times, patience is a virtue. For this trade to materialize, it took the team an entire move. While the Whalers made the trade, the Hurricanes reaped the benefits so many years later.