Carolina Hurricanes Top 20 At 20: Numbers 15-11

Yesterday, we started our Top 20 At 20 countdown with players mostly from the latter stages of the Hurricanes’ past 20 years in North Carolina. Today, we go back a bit further in time, with only one current Hurricane on the countdown and starting with four players who contributed to a pair of Stanley Cup Final runs.

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15. Niclas Wallin

Years with Canes: 2000-2009
Scoring totals: 18 goals, 51 assists, 69 points in 517 games
How acquired: CAR 4th-round pick, 2000 NHL Entry Draft (97th overall)

Niclas Wallin was certainly a fan-favorite during his tenure in Carolina, with his best showings coming during the playoffs. Both the 2002 and 2006 runs saw Wallin tally multiple overtime goals, earning him the nickname “The Secret Weapon,” and his surprise offensive role was a main catalyst for the eventual Stanley Cup win in '06. Overall, he was a solid stay-at-home defenseman for the Canes, with his offensive flair showing on occasion. Though his total numbers will not astound anyone, Wallin's contributions to the Hurricanes go beyond the scoresheet and came at the most crucial times. - Peter Dewar

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14. Cory Stillman

Years with Canes: 2005-2008, 2011
Scoring totals: 52 goals, 113 assists, 165 points in 191 games
How acquired: Signed as free agent for three years on 8/2/2005; reacquired in a trade with Florida for Ryan Carter and a 5th rounder on 2/24/2011

An under-the-radar free agent acquisition for the Hurricanes, Stillman played a critical role in winning the 2006 Stanley Cup. He brought pedigree, having won the Cup the year prior to the lockout with the Tampa Bay Lightning, the eleventh player in NHL history to win consecutive Cups on different teams. Stillman was a point-per-game player in the 2006 playoffs, with 26 points in 25 games including the game-winner that eliminated the Montreal Canadiens in the first round. He left in a trade to the Senators with Mike Commodore in 2008, then was traded back to retire a Hurricane in 2011. - Matt Krombach

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12 (tied): Justin Williams

Years with Canes: 2004-2009
Scoring totals: 81 goals, 120 assists, 201 points in 265 games
How acquired: From Philadelphia in exchange for Danny Markov on 1/20/2004

Before winning a cup and making a huge impact on the Los Angeles Kings, Justin Williams did the same thing for the Carolina Hurricanes. He went from a young NHLer to an established top-six forward during his time in Carolina as he set career-highs in all scoring categories that remain his career bests to this day. Where Williams will be remembered the most is his game seven heroics, including timely goals in game seven of the Eastern Conference Final and Stanley Cup Final en route to the Hurricanes winning the hockey holy grail in 2006. He has been given the title of “Mr. Game Seven” for good reason. Today, a now 35-year-old Williams is a key cog in the powerful machine that is the Washington Capitals. - Brett Finger

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12 (tied): Arturs Irbe

Years with Canes: 1998-2004
Goaltending totals: 130-122-44, .906% SV, 2.49 GAA, 20 SO in 309 games
How acquired: Signed as free agent September 14, 1998

The man they call "Archie" is one of the original Hurricane greats. The diminutive Latvian goaltender was a favorite among all of his teams, but especially the Canes. Irbe had a style all his own — as a smaller goalie, he had to keep an aggressive, athletic, and almost acrobatic style to keep the puck out, and his theatrics in the crease earned him many a fan. And one cannot talk about Irbe's style without mentioning his, uh, unique helmet choice. Irbe's time with Carolina may have ended on rocky ground with his demotion to the ECHL and subsequent trade, but he will always be known as a star in Carolina. - Peter Dewar

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Jamie Kellner

11. Justin Faulk

Years with Canes: 2011-present
Scoring Totals: 60 goals, 120 assists, 180 points in 372 games
How Acquired: Selected with the 37th overall pick in the 2010 NHL entry draft.

The former second round pick has emerged and established himself as the cornerstone of the Hurricanes defense. The three-time NHL all-star finished seventh place in Calder trophy voting after the 2011-2012 season, and 22nd place in the Norris Trophy voting after the 2014-2015 season, though many would argue he should have been a bit higher up on both of those lists. The lack of recognition doesn’t seem to bother Faulk, though, as he continues to produce huge numbers from the blue line on a yearly basis. - Kyle Morton