A lot has been said about the man at the center of every major moment in Carolina Hurricanes' history. Rod Brind’Amour isn't just a head coach in Carolina. A replaceable figurehead here because of their contract. In fact, Brind'Amour knows he's making less money to coach in Raleigh than he could in other markets around the National Hockey League. But for Rod coaching in his adopted state is as good as it gets.
Since being traded from the Philadelphia Flyers in the first few days of the new millennium Brind’Amour has grown from a grizzled veteran still chasing a Stanley Cup. To a franchise legend that seemingly can't do anything wrong in the eyes of fans who watched him captain the team to a Stanley Cup Championship in 2006. Fans who believe he could be on the cusp of another championship for the City of Oaks. This time standing behind the bench.
Speaking to the media after the Carolina Hurricanes passed the New Jersey Devils to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals Brind'Amour said something that surprised me. In response to Jesper Fast's overtime win, Rod was asked what his emotions were and what his reaction was. "It's interesting. I mean, I enjoy it for them," Brind'Amour responded. "That's really what I love about coaching. I've been there and played, so I have that. Now you know how exciting it is as a player. To get to see these guys enjoy it - Aw man, it gives me chills." It's not new for a former player to live vicariously through the group he now coaches. Many former NHL players have found a home behind the bench. But it was what Brind'Anour said next that made me sit back and think.
"I played it back so I could hear the crowd. We just did it in there," Brind'Amour continued with his signature grin on his face. "That's what it's about. These guys will remember that forever now. - We're stacking memories here and they're giving them to me too. It's pretty special."
Brind'Amour and his coaching staff. Made up of mostly former players, listened to the Caniacs inside PNC lose their minds the moment their team punched a ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals. It wasn't about the play or what created the scoring opportunity. In the end, it was about the fans. The uncontrollable joy that rang out was still playing in Hurricanes players' minds as they woke up yesterday morning for a well-deserved day of rest.
Rod Brind'Amour and his coaching staff wanted to relive that moment. Not as elite hockey minds. Not as the coaching staff that needs to create a game plan for the next round. But as fans of the players in their locker room who just created a core memory that will stick with them long after they hang up their skates. This will be with them until their natural days come to an end.
"It's pretty special," might be the biggest understatement of Brind'Amour's coaching career.
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