UPDATE:
My interview with NBC17 in Raleigh concerning the coaching change: http://tinyurl.com/6eqqhu
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Today, the Carolina Hurricanes have a new head coach.
Peter Laviolette
Not too much of a surprise. The new sheriff in town? That’s a Zamboni of a different color.
Peter Laviolette has been fired as head coach of the Hurricanes. His replacement, on an interim basis, is Paul Maurice, former Toronto Maple Leaf’s coach the man Laviolette replaced as coach in 2004. Current Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Development Ron Francis will become Maurice’s associate head coach.
The writing has been on the wall for weeks, or maybe since the end of the season: Laviolette would not finish the season as the Carolina Hurricanes head coach. He was in a no-win situation, just like Matt Doherty in his days with the Tar Heels men’s basketball program. The only difference is he proved himself to be a winner, earning loyalty from the Caniacs.
When his job was in question at the end of last season, Hurricanes management had their hand ready on the panic button and Laviolette was on the clock playing the waiting game. I can argue that, from a management perspective, this decision should have come sooner because of inconsistent trends that mirror that season. Bottom line, the coach is the scape-goat for the players’ poor performance collectively.
Don’t worry about him though, I do not think he’ll stay unemployed for long.
The Future
Ron Francis, Jim Rutherford and Paul Maurice
So, what about Paul Maurice’s return to the Triangle? I’m trying to ignore the public outrage over this move and think about it as a hockey decision. I’ll post my detailed thoughts about the decision following tomorrow night’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
What I will say now is I’m encouraged by the public outcry as it shows how much this community cares about the team. I urge everyone to realize Maurice is a different coach today than the day he was fired five years ago. He’s not like Joe Gibbs, former Washington Redskins Head Coach.
Gibbs returned to the team he won three Super Bowl championships with in the ’80s and early ’90s after a 12-year absence from the game. Gibbs tried to recreate the schemes that led to the Super Bowl titles, but with no success. Conversely, Maurice has only been out of the League since April when he was fired by the Leafs. He has evolved with the game, as his coaching philosophies have changed since the last time he was the Hurricanes’ coach.
Just remember Maurice is only the interim coach, with no guarantees beyond the end of this season. I’m interested in what he can do.
Please check back for updates tomorrow following the game.
Patrick Clarke is an editor and publisher for TheDesk
1 Comment
December 4, 2008 at 8:48 am
Oh, we are really sad to see him go! I agree that he was a scapegoat for the players’ poor performance, but that’s ultimately the coach’s job–get the best out of his players. Still, he is a good coach and won’t sit for long–and may just end up haunting the owners when they have to face his speedy play in the playoffs some day!
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