This edition of NHL Rumours focuses on the Carolina Hurricanes as they march towards the end of the season. They were a team that was very active during the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline this year and continue to be a team to watch as the season ends and the postseason begins. But this doesn’t mean that there aren’t some big offseason items General Manager Don Waddell will have to address. In addition to numerous RFAs and UFAs, Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour will also need an extension after this season.
NHL Rumours: Carolina Hurricanes Head Coaching
Rumour: Elliotte Friedman discussed on Saturday Headlines that Hurricanes Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour is optimistic on a contract extension after the season but wants to see his assistants taken care of first.
Analysis: After many years of missing the playoffs, the Carolina Hurricanes look likely to return to the postseason for their sixth consecutive year. While both Ron Francis and Don Waddell had their hands on getting the team constructed to consistently make the playoffs, arguably the biggest factor in this consistency has been coach Rod Brind’Amour. Spending some time before as an assistant, Waddell hired him as head coach in the summer of 2018. It’s no coincidence that it was that season that Carolina returned to the playoffs after missing them for almost a decade.
Being a player arguably more synonymous with the Carolina Hurricanes than anyone else, it makes sense that with his coaching success he has stuck around for now six years. He captained the team to their only Stanley Cup Championship and seems to be right there on the cusp of doing it another time as a coach. Of course, that is easier said than done, but Carolina has seen him as the best chance for over half a decade for the team. After his first three-year deal expired, he signed another three-year contract in 2021. And now after this season it is time for the Hurricanes to give him another extension, assuming they can reach a deal.
A Meeting of the Minds
Friedman’s report above is almost identical to what we saw when Brind’Amour was negotiating his first extension in 2021. It seems clear that both sides want an extension. Brind’Amour wants to be here. He has spent most of his NHL career here, his family is here, he knows the players, the staff, and his “bosses.” He also knows that both owner Tom Dundon and GM Waddell allow him to have a lot of input in personnel decisions. With a team that has a defining characteristic of being a “win-by-committee” squad requiring no spectators, it makes sense that Brind’Amour wants as much input on his players as he can get.
Being a former player with the nickname “Rod the Bod”, he also is a “players’ coach” who seems to know how to really relate to most players on a one-on-one basis. Even Brendan Lemieux stated that he re-signed with Carolina because he felt more respected as a player under Brind’Amour than he has on teams before when he had more ice time.
Brind’Amour holds himself with a lot of accountability and respect towards his team. This is for his players but also his assistant coaches. With that, it’s no surprise the Brind’Amour wants to see deals with his assistant coaches settled before he signs the line. This includes forwards coach Jeff Daniels, defence coach Tim Gleason, and goaltender coach Paul Schonfelder. All of this is exactly the same that Brind’Amour said when signing his first contract extension in 2021.
Patience is a Virtue
It’s not so much that he seems to be saying he will only sign if his assistants are signed. He knows he has negotiating power and therefore can help his assistants by putting that stipulation before management. He even stated in 2021 that that was what caused the delay in his signing. All the reasons stated above are reasons Brind’Amour wanted, and seemingly still wants, to stay.
Yeah, money is part of it, but as he stated in 2021, “Finances and money are a part of it. But I feel like I’m the richest person because I have a relationship with my owner and GM that I don’t think many other coaches have.” If he became a free agent, many teams would likely line up to snag him. But, Carolina wants this extension and Rod Brind’Amour likely does too. It seems like more of a when than an if at this point.
Main Photo Credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
