Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has drawn criticism for engraving the names of his wife and children on the Stanley Cup, a move that reportedly resulted in some players who contributed to the championship being excluded from the trophy.
The tradition of adding names to the Stanley Cup typically honors players and key team personnel. However, Dundon's decision to include his family members has ignited debate within the hockey community.
While it is not unprecedented for team owners to add family names to the Cup, the practice has previously drawn controversy. In 1984, Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington added his father's name, which was later covered with Xs as he had no role in the championship. More recently, Panthers owner Vincent Viola had names added to the Cup following his team's 2025 victory.
Reports suggest that the inclusion of Dundon's family members meant that some players did not make the final engraving. One such player mentioned is Joel Nystrom, who played 38 regular-season games for the Hurricanes. The NHL typically requires 41 regular-season games or one appearance in the Stanley Cup Final for a player's name to be included, though exceptions can be petitioned.
The decision has led to discussions about priorities in honoring a team's success. While owners have significant control over their franchises, the move has been characterized as potentially causing internal friction, especially given the multi-year effort and contributions from numerous individuals that led to the Hurricanes' championship.