Waddell: Deal will get done, Brind'Amour wants to be 'Hurricane for life'
Posted May 1, 2024 1:29 p.m. EDT
Updated May 2, 2024 1:18 p.m. EDT
Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Wadell said Wednesday that he expects a contract extension with head coach Rod Brind'Amour to be finalized soon.
The 53-year-old Brind'Amour, who won the Stanley Cup as a Carolina player in 2006, has led the Hurricanes to the playoffs and advanced at least one round in all six of his seasons behind the bench.
Carolina defeated the New York Islanders on Tuesday night to advance to the second round of the NHL Playoffs against the New York Rangers. The series schedule has not been released yet.
"We talk daily about it," Waddell said. "I feel very confident, as I've said before, that this deal will get done. Rod wants to be a Hurricane for life."
"I had a great conversation yesterday with Don and then again this morning and I feel really good that we'll figure it out quickly. Yeah, I'm not concerned," Brind'Amour said after practice on Thursday.
Brind'Amour, in the final year of his three-year deal signed in 2021, is 278-130-44 as the Hurricanes' head coach. He played the final 9.5 seasons of his 20-year career with the Hurricanes, skating in 694 games and scoring 174 goals with 299 assists.
"Everybody knows this is where I want to be," Brind'Amour said on ESPN later Wednesday, adding that if both sides want something to happen, it'll work out.
He is as synonymous with the Hurricanes, which moved to North Carolina in 1997, as any person, player or coach.
Several media outlets have connected Brind'Amour to the head-coaching vacancy in Seattle. His name has also appeared on lists for other openings, including Buffalo.
"When you're dealing with contracts, there's always two sides," Waddell said Wednesday afternoon. "Rod's been great to deal with and there's going to be a solution here very quickly I feel."
Injury updates
Defenseman Tony D'Angelo, who left Game 5 against the Islanders after being hit on the wrist, is fine, Waddell said. X-rays were negative, and D'Angelo was feeling better Wednesday.
Defenseman Brett Pesce, who missed most of the Islanders' series after being injured in Game 2, is out of his walking boot and will play in the series against the Rangers if everything goes as expected, Waddell said. Pesce may not be available for the beginning of the series.
Forward Jesper Fast, who is out for the playoffs, is in a neck brace for the next two weeks. He has sprained a muscle in his neck, no fracture or breaks, Waddell said. "We're not going to take a chance on somebody, especially when you're talking about the neck area," Waddell said. Fast is doing treatment at PNC Arena.
