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Carolina Hurricanes: Bill Peters deserves one last chance

By Dave Stevenson

RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 13: Bill Peters, head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes watches action on the ice during an NHL game against the Dallas Stars on November 13, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC - NOVEMBER 13: Bill Peters, head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes watches action on the ice during an NHL game against the Dallas Stars on November 13, 2017 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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No matter what the Carolina Hurricanes do in the next few months, head coach Bill Peters deserves to be a part of it

Under new owner Thomas Dundon, the Carolina Hurricanes could see some significant changes. To start, former general manager Ron Francis has been “promoted’ to President of Hockey Operations. Though considering his replacement will report directly to Dundon rather than him, it’s not so much of a promotion as it is a way to get rid of a franchise legend without firing him.

The front office is going to see some change, for sure. Perhaps the coaching staff will as far as the assistants. However, one person whose job should remain safe for now is head coach Bill Peters.

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It’s hard to gauge how much of an influence a coach has on his team. But one of them is looking at the roster and seeing how they do. It’s hard to argue Peters hasn’t made the rosters he’s been given into more than just a collective sum of their parts.

At the very least, he’s never been given a playoff caliber roster. It’s not smart to fire a coach when you still aren’t sure how good he is. Peters has not been the issue for the Hurricanes struggles. As good as Francis was at making his team deep, he couldn’t get stars.

And it’s not like he had no opportunities. Francis made several draft blunders (most notably selecting Haydn Fleury over William Nylander). Going with Jake Bean over Charlie McAvoy doesn’t look smart. Whether it’s due to bad luck or other factors, Francis never acquired a top center in the draft.

Also, until the Scott Darling trade and extension, he never upgraded the Hurricanes goaltending. The Eddie Lack trade was supposed to do that but didn’t. Which brings me to my next point. Let’s take a look at how Carolina’s goaltending has ranked under Peters.

  • 2014-15: .902 save percentage (fourth-worst)
  • 2015-16: .902 save percentage (second-worst)
  • 2016-17: .901 save percentage (fourth-worst)
  • 2017-18*: .896 save percentage (worst)

* As of March 11

It’s debatable how much influence a head coach has on his goaltenders. But is it Peters’ fault he has had to deal with Cam Ward, Lack, Anton Khudobin (pre-Bruins voodoo), and Darling? If the Hurricanes got even league average goaltending in the past three seasons, they wouldn’t have the longest postseason drought in the NHL.

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The next Carolina general manager is likely going to want to pick his own coaching staff. And rightfully so. However, whoever the next GM is would be very wise to give Peters one more chance unless a better option becomes available.

Should the Hurricanes stick with Peters moving forward? Let us know in the comments!

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