Post by hockeyfreak (Hurricanes GM) on Aug 25, 2011 15:16:18 GMT -5
CANES HIRE DOUG MACLEAN AS HEAD COACH
Maurice steps down; Barasso, Rowe, Kinnear fired
Raleigh, NC - In a bizarre mid season change up, the Hurricanes held a press conference today to introduce Doug Maclean as their new head coach. After former bench boss Paul Maurice announced yesterday that he would be stepping down to the position of assistant coach, the anticipation turned to who would be his successor.
There were rumors that the Canes were interviewing the legendary Scotty Bowman for the position, but Bowman quickly squashed those as he agreed to return to the NHL for a position with the Anaheim Ducks. Mike Keenan hinted that he could be a possible candidate for the job, but later admitted that he was swayed by Bowman's decision to play a secondary role on the Ducks bench.
In a press conference early this afternoon, Maclean was introduced as the new head coach of the Hurricanes. The Canes also announced that they would be terminating the contracts of three of their four assistant coaches. Tom Barasso, Tom Rowe and Geordie Kinnear would all be let go effective immediately according to Canes general manager Hockeyfreak.
Former player and Hurricanes standout Rod Brind'Amour would stay on as an assistant coach and will be joined by former ECHL bench boss Barry Smith. Brind'Amour, Smith and Maurice will serve as the assistant coaches to Doug Maclean.
"I've spoken to Paul (Maurice) already, we're both committed to turning this around," said Maclean at today's press conference, "There's a lot of potential for this team to succeed, and we both think that this is a step in the right direction for the Hurricanes".
GM Hockeyfreak acknowledged that last seasons post season failure had to do in part to the whole sale change up behind the bench.
"Well, any time you have a roster that is as potent and as talented as we thought it was, you have to assess reasons for failure. We feel that we have a core that can contend for the Cup, both short term and long term, and this is the coaching dynamic that we feel will bring the most success out of the group we've put together," said HF.
Maclean, a two time NHL head coach, was last seen behind an NHL bench with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2004. Maclean was the head coach of the Florida Panthers when they made their improbable run to the finals in 1996. He has seen minimal NHL success since that time.
Maurice has been a main stay behind the Canes bench seeing two different stints with the team. Maurice coached the Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup finals appearance in 2002 where they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings. Maurice's contract was not renewed following the NHL lockout, and he returned to the NHL behind the bench of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2006. Maurice was welcomed back to the Hurricanes organization in 2008-09 where he guided the team to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
With the history between the two of making Cinderella stories out of nothing, GM Hockeyfreak hopes that the two can take it one step further with a team that is by all accounts, a serious Stanley Cup threat.
"These are two terrific coaches. They've proven it at every level, and we've seen what they both can do with teams that dont have what we have here, so we hope we can put it all together for us and make something happen here," HF said as the press conference concluded.
The Hurricanes currently sit in third place in the Southeast division behind the Winnipeg Jets and the Washington Capitals. After finishing 5th in the Eastern Conference and 2nd in the division last season, many have expected much more out of the Canes to date.
"We really think we can turn it around starting now," said Maurice in agreement with Maclean's assertion that the Hurricanes still could win the division.
Maurice steps down; Barasso, Rowe, Kinnear fired
Raleigh, NC - In a bizarre mid season change up, the Hurricanes held a press conference today to introduce Doug Maclean as their new head coach. After former bench boss Paul Maurice announced yesterday that he would be stepping down to the position of assistant coach, the anticipation turned to who would be his successor.
There were rumors that the Canes were interviewing the legendary Scotty Bowman for the position, but Bowman quickly squashed those as he agreed to return to the NHL for a position with the Anaheim Ducks. Mike Keenan hinted that he could be a possible candidate for the job, but later admitted that he was swayed by Bowman's decision to play a secondary role on the Ducks bench.
In a press conference early this afternoon, Maclean was introduced as the new head coach of the Hurricanes. The Canes also announced that they would be terminating the contracts of three of their four assistant coaches. Tom Barasso, Tom Rowe and Geordie Kinnear would all be let go effective immediately according to Canes general manager Hockeyfreak.
Former player and Hurricanes standout Rod Brind'Amour would stay on as an assistant coach and will be joined by former ECHL bench boss Barry Smith. Brind'Amour, Smith and Maurice will serve as the assistant coaches to Doug Maclean.
"I've spoken to Paul (Maurice) already, we're both committed to turning this around," said Maclean at today's press conference, "There's a lot of potential for this team to succeed, and we both think that this is a step in the right direction for the Hurricanes".
GM Hockeyfreak acknowledged that last seasons post season failure had to do in part to the whole sale change up behind the bench.
"Well, any time you have a roster that is as potent and as talented as we thought it was, you have to assess reasons for failure. We feel that we have a core that can contend for the Cup, both short term and long term, and this is the coaching dynamic that we feel will bring the most success out of the group we've put together," said HF.
Maclean, a two time NHL head coach, was last seen behind an NHL bench with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2004. Maclean was the head coach of the Florida Panthers when they made their improbable run to the finals in 1996. He has seen minimal NHL success since that time.
Maurice has been a main stay behind the Canes bench seeing two different stints with the team. Maurice coached the Hurricanes to a Stanley Cup finals appearance in 2002 where they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings. Maurice's contract was not renewed following the NHL lockout, and he returned to the NHL behind the bench of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2006. Maurice was welcomed back to the Hurricanes organization in 2008-09 where he guided the team to an Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
With the history between the two of making Cinderella stories out of nothing, GM Hockeyfreak hopes that the two can take it one step further with a team that is by all accounts, a serious Stanley Cup threat.
"These are two terrific coaches. They've proven it at every level, and we've seen what they both can do with teams that dont have what we have here, so we hope we can put it all together for us and make something happen here," HF said as the press conference concluded.
The Hurricanes currently sit in third place in the Southeast division behind the Winnipeg Jets and the Washington Capitals. After finishing 5th in the Eastern Conference and 2nd in the division last season, many have expected much more out of the Canes to date.
"We really think we can turn it around starting now," said Maurice in agreement with Maclean's assertion that the Hurricanes still could win the division.