Rod Brind’Amour, the Carolina Hurricanes head coach with a successful tenure and a history as a player and coach with the team, is in extension talks that have yet to conclude, amidst his significant achievements and potential interest from other teams lacking a full-time head coach for the 2024-25 season.
Brind’Amour’s contract? It’s ticking down, set to expire when this season wraps. Throughout the year, there’s been chatter about an extension. Yet, last summer, they didn’t even sketch out the basics of a deal, Pierre LeBrun spilled in September.
And there’s more to the story. Reports over the last few months hinted that Brind’Amour wanted his assistants, Jeff Daniels and Tim Gleason, locked down first. Only then would he ink his own contract. But now, who knows? The offer might just be off the table.
What a night for the Hurricanes, though. Knocking out the Islanders, they’ve clinched a series win every year for six straight years under Brind’Amour. That’s right, six years. He’s now the second coach in NHL history to kick off his career with such a playoff series win streak. Only Pat Burns has done the same.
Since taking over from Bill Peters in 2018, Brind’Amour’s led the team to a stellar 278-130-44 record. That’s a .664 points percentage, folks. He’s quickly climbed to second in wins for the Hurricanes/Whalers, right behind Paul Maurice. And let’s not forget, Brind’Amour’s been with the Hurricanes for 24 years, racking up 473 points and leading them to their only Stanley Cup in 2006.
After hanging up his skates in 2010, Brind’Amour didn’t stray far. He jumped into the Hurricanes’ front office, then onto the bench as an assistant coach. By 2018, he was the man in charge. Now, if these extension talks crumble, Brind’Amour becomes the hottest coaching free agent. With six teams searching for a head coach for the 2024-25 season, the race is on. The Sabres were in the mix too, but they’ve already snagged Lindy Ruff for a reunion.
