Cam Ward was the face of the franchise for the Carolina Hurricanes between the pipes for a little more than one decade. Winning the Conn Smythe Trophy and the Stanley Cup in your rookie season along with leading the team to the Eastern Conference Finals on a different occasion can win over a fan base.
However, since that trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Canes have gone through an eight season playoff drought that is wearing on the fans. General manager Ron Francis acquired a goaltender that was supposed to help lead the Canes back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.