By Kurt Dusterberg
As the Carolina Hurricanes prepare to drop the puck for their first home game of the season, the energy in Raleigh is electric. In our September/October issue, we sat down with head coach Rod Brind’Amour to discuss his incredible 25-year journey with the franchise. The conversation was so insightful that we couldn’t fit it all into print. Here is the rest of our exclusive interview with the man who continues to be the heart and soul of the Hurricanes.
Midtown: You often say you still think like a player. You played more than 1,600 games in the NHL. How does that shape the way you coach?
I think it’s huge. From a coach’s standpoint, you see everything. But the players sometimes only see one thing. I always think like I’m sitting (in the player’s position), and I just played a bad period. There might be 10 things, but the player is not going to take 10 things. So what is the one thing that’s going to help the group or that one guy?
The longer I do this, probably the better I get at it. But I’ve got to always remember, sometimes less is more with the group.
Every NHL coach has a handful of call-up players who pass through the locker room. Maybe they’re destined to play just a few games here and there in the league. I can tell there’s a part of you that has a heart for those guys. What are your hopes for players who get called up for a few games with the Hurricanes, who probably won’t be here forever?
Well, I don’t ever think he’s not going to be here forever. You just don’t know how things shake out. You know how hard it is to get here.
You know they grinded it out and somehow found a way to catch your eye and we’re bringing them into the situation. You do want them to succeed for lots of reasons. A lot of times, I’m the one who gets him (here) because I know him a little. Guys have played with guys (that I know). That’s how a lot of this happens. You’re not taking a chance on someone, but you’re betting on that person. We do a lot of that – betting on people. That’s part of our success to be honest with you. It may not be the most talented guy, but let’s take the best guy for the job. He’s either going to figure it out, or if not, he’s going to give you everything he has. There’s zero negativity about that. That’s what I’ve felt about our group almost every time.
You got to bring your son, Skyler, into the NHL for his first two games this season. That’s a rare experience. I imagine you were a dad first that night, even before a coach.
“It was a great experience. I’m coaching, but I’m (thinking), don’t screw up. He had some screw ups, which was fine, then he had some good plays.
It’s been a journey for him, and people don’t understand. I know what they all think: coach’s kid, he got these breaks. That’s what he’s been fighting his whole life. When it came time to draft him, I said, ‘Take him off the list, We can’t draft him.’
Edmonton drafted him. Signing him was iffy, so he picks up the phone and calls Florida, and they wanted him. The first time I stepped in (before last season), he’s 23 years old and I said, “I think this would be a great opportunity for you.”
So he comes here (to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League). Now, I’m like, ‘You know you have to be better. You can’t be 50-50; you’re not getting the call. Just understand that.”
He had a great year in the minors for what he’s supposed to do. He’s not supposed to score goals, but he was the third-highest. He’s not playing power play and he’s doing his job, playing fourth-line center, winning faceoffs and killing penalties.
And at the end of the year, the circumstances were perfect, that the games meant nothing and we were resting everyone we can. We need call ups. And when I ask (Chicago coach Cam Abbott), it’s “Who deserves to be called up?” I felt great about it because he earned it.
To see him get a goal, that’s kind of the icing on the cake, something he will remember forever. I hope there’s more memories like that. He knows where he stands in the whole thing. But for me it was special because he earned every second of that.
At the first home game every season, the players and coaches are all announced to the crowd. And every year, you still receive the loudest ovation. What does that mean to you?
Longevity is part of that. That’s part of the reason I’m still here, I’m assuming, among other things, I hope. Having that experience has made me a better coach. It makes me feel good that I’m part of something special.
And that’s really what it is. The relationship between our fans and our players is special. That’s what it should be in a small community – and that’s what we really are. The fact that there are fans sitting out here after practice…that’s not how it works in big markets. You don’t have access to the guys. When it’s a huge city, it’s different. I really feel we’re a part of this community now. I feel like we’ve forged that bond.
Fans are really excited after seeing defenseman Alexander Nikishin make his NHL debut in the playoffs. Is it realistic to think he could be a star?
I feel like he’s just touching the surface, and these guys who come over (from Russia) and can’t speak English aren’t really themselves until they can start joking with you. How are you going to be really confident if you don’t really understand what’s going on?
You’ve got to be in the environment for a couple years before we really see a guy blossom. I don’t want to expect big things right away. It’s going to take a little time.
And Logan Stankoven, a 22-year-old forward, comes over in a midseason trade, and he’s already signed an eight-year contract. That’s a pretty bold move for the team. There must be a lot of confidence in what he brings.
Betting on people, that’s what you’re doing. I don’t know if he’s going to score a bunch of goals. I don’t know what his ceiling is. Whether he scores another goal or not, that’s the kind of kid you want in your lineup. He’s just a great kid. We’re going to be happy he’s on our team.
If you have 20 guys like that, you may not win, but you’re going to feel good about your chances.
Last season, you reached 300 coaching wins in 488 games – faster than any coach in NHL history. Does that accomplishment mean something to you?
Nobody cares about something like that. But if you were to say, ‘What’s the one thing you want to achieve in coaching?” … It’s consistency. You want to look good every night you play. If you can do that, you’re going to be fine, and that’s one of the things we’ve preached from Day 1. To this point, that’s what we’ve been. The last prize is still there for us to get, but the process has been pretty good.
We just want to have a chance. That’s the whole key. I feel like we do, and we have every year. We haven’t quite got over the hump. But it’s better to have a chance than no chance.
From his “betting on people” philosophy to his deep appreciation for the fans, Rod Brind’Amour’s approach is a masterclass in leadership and community building. His reflections offer a rare glimpse into the mind of a coach who has not only achieved historic success but has also forged an unbreakable bond with the Triangle. As the Canes chase the ultimate prize this season, it’s clear the team is in the best of hands.
