It makes all the sense in the world for Carolina Hurricanes head coach Bill Peters to use his opt-out to test the waters of free agency
The Carolina Hurricanes are in a transitional period. They haven’t made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in nearly a decade. New majority owner Thomas Dundon has put the franchise on notice, already removing Ron Francis from his general manager position. Thanks to an opt-out clause in his contract, head coach Bill Peters might be next.
This clause allows him to opt-out of his current deal, which pays him $1.6 million per season. However, Peters must exercise this clause by Friday, April 20. The Hurricanes would like to keep him, as they aren’t exactly pushing him out like they did with Francis.
More from Puck Prose
- Detroit Red Wings 2023 Rookie Camp Has Plenty of Ups and Downs
- This Columbus Blue Jackets rookie doesn’t want to be forgotten
- 2 trades the Boston Bruins must make to secure the Stanley Cup
- 3 reasons the Avalanche won’t win the Stanley Cup in 2024
- This is a big year for Alex Turcotte and the Los Angeles Kings
It makes all the sense in the world for Peters to use this as an opportunity to test free agency. First of all, just because he opts out, this doesn’t mean he’s necessarily not coming back to the Hurricanes. If nothing else, Peters might want to take a significant risk and use his opt-out as a way to get paid more money.
At $1.6 million, though coaches’ salaries aren’t always made public, he ranks among the lowest paid coaches. According to Cap Friendly, the only known coaches who make less than that per year are either first-time coaches or Barry Trotz. Peters has been coaching the Hurricanes since 2014. He’s been around long enough to warrant a higher salary.
Secondly, maybe Peters doesn’t want to stick around. Going out on your own terms is better than being fired (which might happen since Dundon recently referenced having options). There are several lucrative coaching jobs out there.
For starters, the New York Rangers need a new head coach. Coaching for an Original Six team might be appealing to Peters. Also, the Hurricanes are famous for being a budget team. Meanwhile, the Rangers are the wealthiest team in the league. Peters can expect a pay raise if he gets hired by them.
Next: 3 Potential Hurricanes GM Candidates
Should he become available, perhaps the Calgary Flames would express interest. If the Washington Capitals decide not to bring back Trotz, whose contract expires after this season, Peters would be an obvious candidate to replace him.
His opt-out clause provides him with a ton of leverage. Peters could use it to force the team to either commit to him long-term or let him move on. Should he opt-out, he’ll throw a monkey wrench into the coaching market.