RALEIGH, NC – After a lackluster start to the 2008-09 season and inconsistent performances, the management of the Carolina Hurricanes organization decided it was time for change and returned to a familiar past.
On Wednesday, December 5th, Coach Peter Laviolette, who guided the team to its lone Stanley Cup championship in 2006, was replaced by Paul Maurice – the same man who Laviolette replaced five years ago in December of 2003. Ron Francis, who played for Maurice on the 2002 Carolina team that reached the Stanley Cup final and was the Hurricanes’ assistant general manager and director of player development, will serve as associate coach.
“We’re not going to try and change the identity of this team in terms of
Paul Maurice listens as he is reintroduced as Hurricanes coach (Photo courtesy NHL/Carolina Hurricanes)
Maurice, 41, the winningest coach in franchise history with 268 wins in 674 regular-season games, coached the former Hartford Whalers, and relocated with the team to Greensboro as the Carolina Hurricanes on the way to their final destination at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina . He last was behind the bench of the Toronto Maple Leafs, earning a 76-66-22 record in two seasons with the Leafs before being fired last May.
Laviolette, who became the winningest American-born coach just last month, struggled to regain the success of the 2005-2006 team. In 2006-2007, the Hurricanes finished with a disappointing 40-34-8 record. Last season, the team overcame a poor start to control its division only to lose the top slot to the Washington Capitals, knocking Carolina out of the post season chase.
Missing the playoffs two years in a row after winning the Stanley Cup was not good. Failing to make the post season for a third consecutive year was never an option. Coaching changes sometimes become a necessity and the Hurricanes have a team right now that is not playing with the kind of confidence it needs. They have lost that confidence, winning just four of its last 10 games and winning two or more consecutive games on only three occasions this season.
“We have a team right now that is not playing with the kind of confidence it needs,” Hurricanes President and General Manager Jim Rutherford said. “We’ve lost that confidence and because of that, the change was made.”
Getting this team back on track will not be an easy task. As Maurice restarts his coaching career in the midst of a team that lacks chemistry and is suffering the injury bug that has plagued the Canes for the last few years. The latest victim, goalie Cam Ward who has had many outstanding performances already this year.
Maurice shares the passion for hockey with this organization, making him the perfect inspiration that this team needs. The Hurricanes have the talent and skill and with Maurice behind the bench, ownership hopes he will bring the heart and grit back to the Hurricanes.
Make no mistake, changes will be made, but change means growth and the Carolina Hurricanes can definetly benefit in this area. The Hurricanes play Pittsburgh next, at home. Look for an emotional, inspired, fast paced game with a determined group of players.
Contact the author at sue.cunningham@prohockeynews.com
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