Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon reportedly left Joel Nystrom off the Stanley Cup engraving while adding family names

Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has reportedly created an unusual stir surrounding the Stanley Cup itself, after a report said the club engraved family members’ names but omitted one player: Joel Nystrom. Nystrom, who played for Carolina during the team’s Stanley Cup-winning season, was not listed among the championship names, according to the account published July 10 by Yahoo Sports.

The core of the controversy is that Nystrom appeared in 38 games for the Hurricanes during the season that ended with the franchise lifting the Stanley Cup. In the same report, Dundon is described as having included the names of his five children on the Cup, even as Nystrom’s name was left off. That contrast is what has made the episode notable, because Cup engraving is one of the most visible reminders of who contributed to a title.

For the Hurricanes, the Cup engraving process is a recognition ritual that extends beyond the postseason stars. In most NHL title seasons, the organization tries to include players who meet league engraving requirements, plus other names that the club and its ownership staff are allowed to include. This story does not provide details on Carolina’s process, and it does not establish whether the omission was a deliberate decision, a clerical mistake, or a case where Nystrom did not meet a specific engraving threshold.

Nystrom’s reported 38-game run matters because it places him firmly in the category of a meaningful roster contributor, not a depth call-up who only appeared briefly. Even when a team’s playoff lineup is anchored by a smaller group, regular-season minutes are often the difference between getting to the postseason in the first place, and they can affect who remains available and who earns a longer look when the intensity rises.

The report’s mention of Dundon adding his children’s names also highlights how the Cup can sometimes become a personal canvas for ownership. That, in turn, can clash with the expectations of players who believe their season work, and not just the preferences of leadership, should be reflected in the permanent record. If the omission stands, it would be a striking example of how title celebrations can surface unintended disputes or pain points long after the last game.

What to watch next is whether the Hurricanes or the NHL provides clarification on the engraving and eligibility process in this case, and whether there is any correction to the Cup markings. The NHL’s Cup traditions are meant to be precise because the engraving is permanent, so any follow-up would likely come through official communication rather than informal debate.