Amid rambunctious celebrations in Raleigh, Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon shared that head coach and former player Rod Brind’Amour can keep his job as long as he’d like.
A reporter remarked that Brind’Amour, who has been a part of both Hurricanes’ Stanley Cups and 102 of the Canes’ 104 franchise playoff wins, has done enough to be the coach for life, or as long as he wants to.
“I mean, that was already the deal,” Dundon responded, in a video posted by Kamran Nia of The News & Observer on X. “Rod was always gonna be the coach – since I hired him – he’s always gonna be the coach as long as he’d want to be.”
Brind’Amour played in Carolina from 2000 through 2010, captaining the team to its first Stanley Cup championship in 2006. He remained with the organization immediately after his retirement as a player, serving as Director of Player Development for the 2010-11 season. He spent seven seasons as an assistant coach before being promoted to head coach in 2018-19.
During his eight years at the helm, the Hurricanes have been one of the most dominant teams in the league, reaching the playoffs every year except his first season and making the Eastern Conference Finals four different times (losing in 3 of those series). They also won their division four times and recorded 99 or more points six different years. Brind’Amour won the Jack Adams award as Coach of the Year during the 2020-21 season.
During his parade speech, Brind’Amour talked about what he asked of his players and the product they put on the ice to demand the success they have had.
“Number one is to play to an identity. And that identity is, we gotta compete our asses off every night,” Brind’Amour said, per a video posted by The Hockey News’ Ryan Henkel on X. “You have to take pride in what you do and who you’re doing it with and how you do it.”
“It’s stressful, right?,” Dundon remarked about Brind’Amour’s job. “The reason he’s so good at it is cause he cares so much, but that’s also the thing that could [make him burn out] over time.”
But, for the time being, “Rod the Bod” is de-stressing and letting loose as he celebrates his second Stanley Cup — and he definitely seems to be enjoying himself.
The respect and appreciation between Dundon and Brind’Amour was apparent on Saturday, as Brind’Amour was sure to shoutout Dundon during his parade speech and reiterate their goal. “I got to thank one guy, because eight years ago, he gave me the chance to lead these guys,” he said.
“When people talk about this team, they’re gonna say its the greatest team that’s ever won the Stanley Cup.”
