Rod Brind'Amour has become the face of Triangle sports and a proud member of the Raleigh community

Rod Brind'Amour was named Carolina Hurricanes head coach in May 2018.

Brind'Amour's teams have made the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons. Last season might have been his finest work.

"There was a lot that happened last year," Brind'Amour said. "Seems like every year there's a lot going on with our group."

Goalie Freddie Andersen underwent knee surgery. There was the Mikko Rantanen trade with Colorado, and the subsequent trade with Dallas. Not to mention having to replace core players like Brett Pesce, Teuvo Teravainen and Brady Skjei. Despite the turnover and adversity, the Hurricanes found themselves in the Eastern Conference Final for the second time in three years.

"I think we've given ourselves a chance every year to get to that point," Brind'Amour said. "There's one more goal that we are trying to get to, obviously, but love the guys that we have here."

Stanley Cup or bust is a nearly impossible standard and one that can be taken for granted.

"I'll be honest, it does get a little frustrating when you hear people talk about an unsuccessful season and, you know, you're, you're playing into June," Brind'Amour said. "That's hard to do. Would you trade that in to get there one time and not the rest of the years? I don't know. I like having an opportunity every year to be challenging for something."

Raleigh is a college basketball town, but the city has become a hockey market. You could argue that after the retirements of college basketball legends like Roy Williams and Mike Krzyzewski, Brind'Amour has become the face of Triangle sports.

"'[I'm] not that old yet," Brind'Amour laughed. "But two legends, right? Like, ... those guys are, that's another notch up ... Someday, I'd love to be able to be in that group, but we've got to win one."

"Those are two legends," Brind'Amour continued. "I've been fortunate to meet and talk with Coach K a little bit. There's no secret why he's been so successful."

Brind'Amour's secret might be the fact that, despite all of his coaching success, he still sees himself as a player.

"I don't know that I'll ever identify as a coach," Brind'Amour said. "I still catch, you know, when people say, 'Hey coach,' I'm just like, you know, talking to me?"

"I don't think that'll ever change," Brind'Amour continued. "I think that's one of the things that I think makes me effective, is I do still think like a player. I know what they're thinking. I know when they're sitting there listening to me talk, I'm getting too long or whatever. Like, I'm getting bored myself, right?"

At 55 years old, Brind'Amour still looks like he could play. The only visible sign of aging since he was named Hurricanes head coach is the white strip of hair at the tip of his forehead.

"You have to understand the new generation," Brind'Amour said. "We can say good or bad or indifferent, whatever, but it changes."

Brind'Amour's three kids help keep him in touch with the youth. As his career has evolved, so have his sons. Skyler Brind'Amour is now a part of the Hurricanes organization and plays for their AHL affiliate in Chicago.

"It's been exciting for him, [and] for us, as a family," Brind'Amour said. "We know what he's gone through his whole life to get to that stage. So to see him around has been great, still forging his way."

Before or after a Hurricanes practice, you'll see Brind'Amour get some one-on-one coaching and dad time with his youngest son Brooks. Brind'Amour has not only seen his own family grow up with the Hurricanes, but his players, too.

"Sebastian Aho, he was a kid when he showed up, and now he's a dad," Brind'Amour said about Aho, who became a father last postseason. "That's part of the job, that's really special, watching them transform ... like being a father is the most important thing that you can ever be."

Brind'Amour has not only become an iconic Raleigh sports coach, but a part of the community.

"It's a special place," Brind'Amour said. "We know we wouldn't be here this long and doing what I'm doing, if it wasn't. Very fortunate to be in this seat, and I'll try to keep it as long as I can."