With the NHL having existed for over 100 years, it's safe to say you're eventually going to run into some generational overlap.
But how often do two generations end up within the same organization?
As you'll see, not very often, but there's a lot of overlap between talented parents and talented children.
Today we take a look at some father and son duos with connections to the Carolina Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers franchises.
Happy Father's Day!
Father-Son Combos to Both Play for Hurricanes/Whalers
Gordie and Marty and Mark Howe
The ultimate father-son connection, the Howes are the only family to have had father and son actively play together.
In the 1979-1980 season, all three played together on the Hartford Whalers with Gordie at the tender age of 51.
Not only that, all three were on the same line too.
Mr. Hockey is one of the most iconic players in league history but the kids did alright too. Marty carved out a solid career and Mark went on to be a Hall of Famer just like his father.
You won't find a better example of a father-son connection than them.
Ted and Jack Drury
The only other father-son connection the Hurricanes organization has seen was the Drurys.
Ted played parts of two seasons with the Whalers from 1993 to 1995.
He was traded from Calgary in his rookie season and after just two years in Hartford, was traded again to the Ottawa Senators.
Ted would play for eight years and on six different teams.
In fact, the Hurricanes would end up trading for him in 2002 but he only ever played in the AHL that season for the Albany River Rats and Lowell Lake Monsters, after that he played five seasons in Germany before retiring.
Jack, a 2018 second-round pick by the Canes, has carved out a full-time NHL role for himself following a solid season in Carolina.
Current Hurricanes with Father-Son NHL Experience
Jason and Jackson Blake
Freshly signed Jackson Blake, the Canes' 2021 fourth-round pick, looks to have a promising career in front of him after being a finalist for the Hobey Baker award this season as the NCAAs best player.
But before him, his father was grinding away to be an NHL regular.
The smaller-framed forward played 871 games in the league, putting up 213 goals and 486 points over a 13 year career.
Jason also had a 40-goal campaign in the 2006-07 season with the New York Islanders.
Claude and Brendan Lemieux
While Hurricanes enforcer Brendan Lemieux didn't inherit his dad's hands, he did inherit his hands.
Brendan isn't the scoring threat that his father was, 379 goals and 786 points, but he does embody is spirit as an agitator and physical presence as both players were more than willing to throw the gloves and muck things up at a moments notice.
I wonder if there's a father-son duo that has been in more fights or suspended more times overall than the Lemieuxs?
Current NHLers with Fathers with Hurricanes/Whalers Connections
Mark and Ridly Greig
Mark played 74 games for the Whalers from 1990 to 1994.
Ridly currently plays on the Ottawa Senators.
Sami and Kasperi Kapanen
Sami played 520 games between the Hurricanes and Whalers from 1995 to 2003. Consistent goal scorer as well as a winner of the fastest skater competition.
Kasperi currently plays for the St. Louis Blues.
Ed and Mark Kastelic
Ed played 147 games for Hartford from 1988 to 1992.
Mark Kastelic currently plays for the Ottawa Senators.
Curtis and Jake Leschyshyn
Curtis played 255 games for both Carolina and Hartford from 1996 to 2000.
Jake, a Raleigh-born player, currently plays for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Paul and Kurtis MacDermid
Paul played 373 games for the Whalers from 1981 to 1990.
Kurtis plays for the New Jersey Devils where he just signed a three-year extension.
John and Kyle MacLean
John was an assistant coach on the Hurricanes from 2011 to 2014.
Kyle made his NHL debut this season with the New York Islanders.
Bryan and Mason Marchment
Bryan played one season in Hartford in 1993-94.
Mason currently plays for the Dallas Stars.
Michael and Alex and William Nylander
Michael was drafted by the Whalers in 1991 and he would play 117 games there from 1992 to 1994.
Alex currently is with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he's finally starting to click, and William is a star player on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Patrick and Sam Poulin
Patrick was the ninth overall pick by the Whalers in 1991 but played just parts of three seasons there from 1991 to 1994.
Sam made his NHL debut this season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Keith and Cayden Primeau
Keith played three seasons for Carolina and Hartford from 1996 to 1999. In his final season with the Canes, he was named captain, but was then traded for Rod Brind'Amour.
Cayden is a goaltender with the Montreal Canadiens.
Geoff and Jake Sanderson
Geoff was drafted by the Whalers where he played from 1990 to 1998. He played over 1000 games in the league and had 700 points.
Jake plays for the Ottawa Senators.
Cory and Riley Stillman
Cory was a Stanly Cup champion with the Hurricanes, who he played for for four seasons from 2005 to 2008. He came back to Raleigh in 2010-11 to play his final NHL season.
Riley is currently with the Buffalo Sabres.