Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
New York Post
Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour’s future suddenly in doubt ahead of Rangers series
By Justin Tasch,
16 days ago
With a second-round NHL playoffs series against the Rangers looming, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour’s future with the team is suddenly in doubt.
The News & Observer reported Wednesday morning that contract talks between Brind’Amour and the Hurricanes “apparently reach[ed] an impasse and stall,” and that the 53-year-old is “unsure about his future” with the club.
TSN reported later Wednesday that “a deal seemed close” but a contract offer “has been pulled.”
That report added that Brind’Amour, whose contract is up at the end of the season, wants to remain with Carolina.
However, there would likely be a robust market for Brind’Amour — who won the 2006 Stanley Cup with Carolina as a player under current Rangers coach Peter Laviolette — if he becomes a free agent.
In between those reports, Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell addressed the situation with reporters.
“We talk daily about it, and I feel very confident, as I’ve said before, that this deal will get done,” Waddell said . “Rod wants to be a Hurricane for life. To me, when you’re dealing with contracts, there’s always two sides. Rod’s been great to deal with. There’s gonna be a solution here very quickly, I feel.”
Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon told the News & Observer he thinks a contract extension is “all but done.”
“Don and him are working on it. I don’t think there’s anything there,” Dundon told the paper over the phone. “We’re in the playoffs and they haven’t focused on it. They’re doing it together. I said OK to almost everything they’ve asked me for. They’re just getting through the last little stuff.”
Brind’Amour told the N&O in a text, “It’s in Tom’s hands.”
There was some contract drama involving Brind’Amour three years ago also, with an extension not getting done until after the 2020-21 season, a three-year deal that reportedly saw his pay go from $600,000 a year to $1.8 million a season.
Brind’Amour has led Carolina to the NHL playoffs in each of his six seasons behind the bench, including two conference final appearances; they were swept by the Panthers in last year’s conference final.
Now, two years after the 2022 second round in which the Rangers won in seven games, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the Hurricanes for the rematch.
For the latest in sports, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/sports/
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0