After eight years behind the bench during which he guided his team to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in its history, the Carolina Hurricanes have fired head coach Paul Maurice. Taking his place will be former New York Islanders head coach, Peter Laviolette.
So far this season, the Hurricanes have been handcuffed by an anemic offense, something that's put goalie Kevin Weekes on the spot more often than not. While on Long Island, Laviolette was best known for reviving a franchise that hadn't been to the playoffs in seven seasons, taking the Islanders to the playoffs in both his years behind the bench. As for what you'll see on the ice, the Islanders became a team centered around skating and puck posession with Laviolette behind the bench, something that can only be good news for Hurricanes fans.
Bottom line: I don't think the goal drought will last much longer.
As for his dismissal from the team following last season, Laviolette was pretty much undercut by a number of his players during one-on-one interviews with Islanders General Manager Mike Milbury. Once he was done, Milbury was convinced Laviolette had lost the respect of the team, and he was out the door. With the results so far this season on Long Island, Laviolette is looking better and better everyday.
More later as the story develops.
I’m happy with the move — I think this team just needed a kick in the pants more than anything else. After a while, players start tuning a coach out unless he’s a Scotty Bowman-type legend; that’s just the nature of the beast. Couple that with a small but growing fan rebellion, and the fact that Mo has been one December loss away from getting canned each of the past four years, it’s time for a change.
The Canes have the talent, they just haven’t converted it into many wins this year. Hopefully Laviolette will change that.