Why Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon having familys names on Stanley Cup is so controversial and angering fans

NHL fans are up in arms that Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon not only put his family’s names on Lord Stanley’s Cup but at the top of the list.A maximum of 55 names are eligible to be engraved on the Cup, and owner Tom Dundon included six of his family members: his wife Veruschka and their five children Caden, Dax, Drew, Blake and Tagan.Those seven names, including the owner, potentially taking a spot away from some other members of the organization who were legitimately part of the team’s success.What particularly has incensed some is including members of his family who do not hold specific roles with the organization.The Detroit Red wings had nine members of the Ilitch family on the Cup after their titles in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008, but all served as part owners or team vice president, per The Athletic.The Florida Panthers reportedly did the same last season when the Viola family had five total family members engraved on the Cup –– although they all held titles, including alternate governors.The Hurricanes do not meet such criteria with the family inclusion.Still, the names are engraved and fans are not thrilled about it.“We won’t be commenting as an organization,” a spokesperson for the Hurricanes told The Athletic.The processes detailed on the official NHL website describe eligibility requirements for engravings, and it appears there were inconsistencies.“A player is required to have appeared in at least 41 regular-season games with a team, or one Stanley Cup Final game, to be eligible to have his name engraved on the trophy.In 1994, a stipulation was added to allow a team to petition the Commissioner for permission to have players’ names put on the Stanley Cup if extenuating circumstances prevented them from being available to play.

The management staff engraved on the trophy is determined by the team.However, it must be approved by the Hockey Hall of Fame and NHL.”The Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF) responded to an email from The At...