Successful regular season, but they fail to make noise in the playoffs. Sound familiar? No, it is not the Toronto Maple Leafs but the Carolina Hurricanes.
After losing to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final, should Carolina consider moving on from head coach Rod Brind' Amour? Coaches have been fired for much less. His replacement could be out there as one name is one of the better coaches without a job.
Is Brind'Amour out?
Brind'Amour has been a successful coach during his tenure with Carolina. Year after year, they have been one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, bringing a tough to play style with a speedy roster that can skate around any team in the league. Their puck-possession game is one of the best, and they have a well-rounded roster capable of doign great things.
So why would BrindAmour be let go if his team has always been successful? One word: playoffs.
Brind' Amour was named head coach in May 2018, replacing Bill Peters. During his time with Carolina, they are 326-160-49 in the regular season and he was awarded the Jack Adams Award for the league's best coach in the regular season in 2020-21.
While he has had much success in the regular season, his teams have had little success in the playoffs. The Hurricanes have a record of 47-42 in the postseason. They have lost in the conference finals and second round three times each and the first round once during his tenure.
Who could replace Brind'Amour?
There is one head coach who is unemployed right now and maybe a perfect replacement and had a successful run with Carolina before. That man is Peter Laviolette. He was Carolina's head coach from 2003-04 through the 2009-10 season, winning a Stanley Cup in 2006. His record behind the bench was a solid 167-122-6.
He has been one of the more successful head coaches in NHL history, posting a record of 846-562-25. While his post-season record currently stands at 88-82, Laviolette was part of the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia Flyers in 2009-10 and also with the Western Conference champion Nashville Predators in 2016-17 in addition to his Stanley Cup ring.
While Brind'Amour is loved in Carolina, they may need to make a change to find different results in the playoffs. Laviolette has 88 playoff wins to Brind' Amour's 47 and has a Stanley Cup under his belt. Brind' Amour has not got the job done in the playoffs and could be seen as a replaceable coach despite his success with the Hurricanes.
Carolina could also see a different roster next season, as they have six unrestricted free agents. Fans may find it hard to not see Brind'Amour behind the bench but as we all know it does not matter about the regular season but what success you have in the playoffs.