Hurricanes do not want Rod Brind’Amour to slip away
Fans expected a couple days of relaxation before a taxing second-round series with the New York Rangers commences, but a sense of uneasiness quickly surfaced following reports that Brind’Amour could be a popular candidate for a number of NHL squads this offseason. The Seattle Kraken are among those reportedly interested.
However, the front office is determined to prevent such a courtship from happening and is using this brief postseason lull to march closer towards a new deal.
“The Carolina Hurricanes aren’t interested in allowing coveted coach Rod Brind’Amour to investigate the open market,” TSN’s Darren Dreger posted on X. “In the past 24 hours the two sides have come together and it looks encouraging an extension will get done.”
What Rod Brind’Amour has meant to Carolina
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Brind’Amour, who played 20 seasons in the NHL and won a Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2006 (their only one as of now), has changed the trajectory of the franchise since becoming the head coach in 2018. His current deal expires on July 1.
Before Carolina hired Rod Brind’Amour, the team had missed the playoffs nine-straight years, a miserable drought that actually started in the 53-year-old’s final campaign as a player. He immediately breathed new life into the Hurricanes and jump started a respectable era of hockey in Raleigh that is still in effect today.
Six consecutive postseason berths and two Eastern Conference Finals appearances make it difficult for management to allow the 2021 Jack Adams Award winner (best coach) to escape their grasp. Both sides are seemingly committed to building off the success they have achieved and capturing another championship. A new, lucrative deal would go nicely with The Cup.
Hurricanes must not take their eye off the Rangers
Amid all the reports and theorizing, it is imperative Carolina stay focused on the task at hand. New York, the 2024 President’s Trophy winner, is one of the hottest and most complete teams in the league. The Rangers embody all the necessary tools to win their first Stanley Cup in 20 years. But the Hurricanes can make similar claims.
While the Blueshirts completed savvy but smaller moves ahead of the NHL trade deadline, the Canes made a big splash by acquiring left wing Jake Guentzel and center Evgeny Kuznetsov. They each tallied four points in the five-game ouster of the New York Islanders in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Simply put, the Hurricanes and Rangers should be prepared for an absolute war on the ice. A dialed in Rod Brind’Amour could be a key factor. Knowing that ownership clearly values him should, at minimum, be a nice morale boost.
“I feel really good that we’ll figure it out quickly,” he said, per NBC Sports. “Yeah, I’m not concerned.”
Players and fans alike have immense respect for what Rod Brind’Amour has given to the franchise. He won a championship with the Hurricanes as their captain and now looks to add another as their head coach. If that happens, there might be nothing left to negotiate.
