Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon is facing widespread backlash for his decision to include the names of his five children on the Stanley Cup while omitting player Joel Nystrom, who played in 38 games during the team's championship season. The move has been widely condemned on social media as "disrespectful and shameful."
Dundon, his wife, and his children's names reportedly occupy the first two lines of the engraving, preceding those of the front office and coaching staff. Players are guaranteed a spot on the Cup if they appeared in at least 41 regular-season games or dressed for a Stanley Cup Final game, according to NHL rules. Nystrom, who split his season between the Hurricanes and their AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, did not meet this criteria. However, critics point to the inclusion of Nicolas Deslauriers, who played only seven regular-season games and one playoff game after a mid-season acquisition, as evidence that exceptions can be made.
The controversy extends beyond Nystrom, with Bobby Gorman, the Hurricanes' equipment manager since 1993 and a previous honoree on the 2006 Stanley Cup team, also reportedly excluded. Fans have expressed their disappointment online, with one user on X stating, "The fact that @Canes owner put 7 family names on the Stanley Cup ahead of any players and in one case of a player who played 38 regular season games, is a disgraceful action in NHL history."
Another user commented, "Dumb Tom Dundon wasted so much space on the Stanley Cup by adding his useless children to it. Children who contributed nothing to the success of that team."
The Hurricanes secured their second Stanley Cup in franchise history on June 14, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights in six games. This incident marks the latest controversy surrounding Dundon, who also purchased the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers in March and has faced criticism for cost-cutting measures with that franchise.