They play in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL).
The franchise was founded in 1971 as the New England Whalers, and relocated to North Carolina in 1997.
The NHL Entry Draft is held each June, allowing teams to select players who have turned 18 years old by September 15 in the year the draft is held.
[1] The NHL holds a weighted lottery for the 14 non-playoff teams, allowing the winner to move up a maximum of four positions in the entry draft.
[3] Between 1986 and 1994, the NHL also held a Supplemental Draft for players in American colleges.