Rod Brind'Amour has completed eight years as a coach with the Carolina Hurricanes. Following their 4-0 sweep of the Philadelphia Flyers, he reflected on his love for the team.

The Hurricanes will enter the Eastern Conference Finals for the fourth time under his tenure, but Brind'Amour's relationship with the club goes way back.

The 55-year-old has been with the Hurricanes since arriving from the Flyers in 2000. After 10 seasons with the team, he hung up his boots but remained part of the fabric. He progressed from player development to assistant coaching, a role he held for seven years, before becoming the head coach in 2018.

While speaking on his team's progression to the finals, Brind'Amour acknowledged his journey.

"It's just very, very special to me, and it's home," he said, as per NHL writer Tom Gulitti. "I've said it many times, it's very unique to be a coach in this league and do it where you live, and I'm proud of that.

But more importantly, he cherished his work with the Hurricanes. Before he took the role, the team had missed the playoffs for nine consecutive seasons. Since he took the reins, they have yet to skip a postseason run.

"It means a little more to me because I've been here for so long and we have the roots and the history," he stated.

And Brind'Amour is no stranger to success with the club. In 2005-06, he captained the Hurricanes to their first and only Stanley Cup.

Cut to 2026, the team arrived at the playoffs as first in their division. With a 53-22-7 record, Brind'Amour's consistency with the squad has been remarkable.

He has already added to the club's coaching records. Brind'Amour holds the record for postseason wins with 55. And with 378 victories in 616 games, he is only six behind Paul Maurice in regular-season wins.

His eight-year tenure is nothing to sniff at either. Among current coaches, only Tampa Bay Lightning's Jon Cooper and Colorado Avalanche's Jared Bednar have stayed longer with their teams.

Despite the years, Brind'Amour knows what it takes to maintain the team's ethos.

"We don't deviate too much from the message," he said. "If you believe in what you're throwing out there, then it's pretty easy.

And his work hasn't gone unappreciated.

Captain Jordan Staal hails Brind'Amour

The Hurricanes skipper opened up about his head coach. Renowned for his fiery demeanor on the sidelines, Staal was asked if Brind'Amour's emotions extend to team rooms.

"I think he's probably holding back a little sometimes," Staal said. "We hear a little bit more detail sometimes in our meetings, but for the most part, he's pretty genuine."

Defenseman Sean Walker lauded him as a winner. The Hurricanes went all the way with Brind'Amour leading as a player, and aim to do the same under his stewardship.

"He was a player. He gets it. He's a champion," Walker stated. "He's won. Every day, he has an amazing speech that makes you want to run through a brick wall."

The Hurricanes will now prepare for the Eastern Conference Finals on Thursday. With either the Sabres or the Canadiens waiting, Rod Brind'Amour will aim to lead his team to another Stanley Cup triumph.

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Written by

Ankita Yadav

Edited by

Sijo Paul