Hurricanes Acquire Scott Darling from Chicago

RALEIGH, NC - Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired goaltender Scott Darling from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Ottawa's 2017 third-round draft pick. The Hurricanes will have exclusive negotiating rights with Darling until July 1, when he could become an unrestricted free agent.

"Scott had a very successful season in Chicago and was a big part of the Blackhawks finishing with the best record in the Western Conference," said Francis. "He played a critical role on Chicago's 2015 championship team."

Darling, 28, went 18-5-5, with a 2.38 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage in 32 games played for Chicago in 2016-17. He recorded the decision in each of his career-high 27 starts (18-5-4), with his lone non-start decision coming as an overtime loss on March 21 against Vancouver after he entered a 4-1 game just moments into the third period. Darling's .924 save percentage in 2016-17 ranked tied for fourth among all NHL goaltenders who started more than 25 games.

Born in Newport News, VA, but raised in Lamont, IL, Darling (6'6", 232 lbs.) made his NHL debut with the Blackhawks on Oct. 26, 2015. In 75 career NHL games with Chicago, he has posted a 39-17-9 record, a 2.37 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage. In 2015, Darling went 3-1 in five opening-round playoff appearances against Nashville, helping the Blackhawks win their first-round series en route to their third Stanley Cup championship in six years. Originally drafted by the Coyotes in the sixth round, 153rd overall, in the 2007 NHL Draft, Darling played two seasons at the University of Maine before turning professional. Before making his NHL debut, he played games at nearly every North American professional level, including the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), ECHL, Central Hockey League (CHL) and American Hockey League (AHL).