Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon is facing criticism after having the names of his wife and children engraved on the Stanley Cup, following the team's second championship in franchise history. The move has drawn attention because, while it is common for an owner's own name to appear on the trophy, extending that honour to family members who had no direct role in the win is seen by many as overstepping — particularly given the limited engraving space available.

The controversy is sharpened by the fact that some contributors reportedly missed out on inclusion, most notably player Joel Nystrom, who appeared in 38 regular-season games. The NHL's standard threshold is 41 regular-season games or one Stanley Cup final appearance, though teams can petition to add players. Dundon is not the first owner to do this: Panthers owner Vincent Viola added family names after his team's 2025 win, and in 1984 Oilers owner Peter Pocklington's inclusion of his father Basil was later covered with X's. Critics argue the space would be better reserved for those who actually helped secure the title.