Normally at the end of a playoff series, a fan base is filled with pure jubilation. Players on the ice might show respect by working their way down the handshake line. But, their fans are jumping in the air thinking of the other team in unspeakable terms that would get you detention in most public schools. No matter how this year’s Eastern Conference Final ends you won’t see Hurricanes fans rubbing salt in the wound.
In facing off against the Florida Panthers the Hurricanes will have to face down their past to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. It’s a storyline that seems fitting as the organization raps up celebrations for its twenty-fifth anniversary in the Tar Heel state.
Behind Florida’s bench is a veteran NHL coach who now sports a widow’s peak. His once boyish brown hair now faded with a mix of gray. Also celebrating his twenty-fifth year in the NHL Paul Maurice spent the majority of his career at the top of Carolina’s coaching hierarchy. Any list of foundational organization members includes Maurice. You can point to his work in Greensboro keeping players and the media motivated through the franchise’s dreadful start in Carolina. In those days of long drives and few fans, Mo was always down for a quick joke and a smile. Chairman Mo was behind the bench when the team made its first appearance in the Cup Finals in 2002. He’s coached franchise legends ranging from Ron Franchise to the Staal brothers.
It would be difficult to overestimate Paul Maurice’s impact on the Carolina Hurricanes. Including convincing current head coach Rod Brind’Amour to step behind the bench following his retirement in 2010. Brind’Amour was looking to do more within the organization but didn’t want to spend time away from his then-young son Skyler. Rod had his eyes on management. It was Maurice who offered a reluctant Brind’Amour a stay-at-home assistant coach position. Rod would get the assistant title and start gaining experience while staying in Raleigh to coach his own son.
“It’s the best gig ever,” Brind’Amour said as a guest on the Spittin’ Chiclets Podcast earlier this year. “I should have just stayed like that. – I go to the games. I’m on the ice with the team when I can. The rest of the time I’m with my son doing our thing and I’m having the best time ever.”
Seven years later Brind’Amour was handed the keys to the locker room and is quickly replacing Maurice in the franchise’s record books. As it become evident that Rod would face off against his former mentor in the Eastern Conference Finals he didn’t hesitate to give credit where it was due.
“There is a reason he has lasted as long as he has,” Brind’Amour said Saturday. “Clearly he’s one of the best.” It’s easy to predict that both men will receive questions about each other in press availabilities leading up to puck drop on Thursday.
Whenever the final horn of this series sounds and the victors take their photos with the Prince of Wales Trophy both head coaches will show their admiration for the opposition. Whoever comes up short can take solace in the fact that someone they respect and care about is moving on to the Finals. Only four wins away from hockey’s ultimate prize.
This is all true without mentioning Eric Staal’s return to Raleigh, trying to eliminate the team he used to captain with his brother Marc. In Carolina, Jordan Staal the youngest of the three is attempting to win his second Stanley Cup while leading the Hurricanes back to the summit for the first time since 2006.
Emotions will run high in this series. Disgruntled players and fans of each team will make unfair and baseless accusations against the other. There’s no other way for it to unfold in the playoffs. But, once it’s over it’s going to be nothing but love for these men who have dedicated their lives to the game they love and owe each other so much.
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