When Does Rod Brind'Amour Sign His New Deal And Is Seattle Making A Coaching Change?
Elliotte Friedman joined Scott Laughlin and Gord Stellick on NHL Network Radio to discuss coaching situations with the Carolina Hurricanes and Seattle Kraken.
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Gord Stellick: “We're talking before the hour is up. We'll have Lance Lysowski to talk about the situation in Buffalo and the coaching change. It's just the first talk in Seattle about going the coaching route with Rod Brind'Amour, But there's still a wise UFA coach waiting at the end of the year. Is that still the case?”
Elliotte Friedman: “It still is, but the thing is, in the case of Brind'Amour, Gordie, I believe they did something with him for a long time. A contract in the closet, going back to last summer.
Brind'Amour revealed that he was waiting to receive the attention of his assistants. It's an interesting situation. It happened last night when his assistants woke up. Tom Dundin is a creature of habit when it comes to interviews. He says he puts a value on your importance or when he thinks the position is important and he can't pass it up. That's a conversation.
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The last time one of his assistants, Brind'Amour's assistant, was Dean Chynoweth, he felt he could do better than what Dundin was offering, and ended up in Toronto. So I think the same thing is kind of playing. I believe Brind'Amour has indicated that he won't sign until his assistants are taken care of or at least they will go as far as things go and you know Brind'Amour says he knows I will sign whatever happens. But I think there's one quote in the unquote drawer for him.
Seattle, I have to admit I'm surprised things went as well as they did in two years in their first season. Kraken was an expansion team, and the results were as many as you'd expect. Last year, they were a 100-point team or a game-winner against Colorado, the former Stanley Cup Champions.
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I would have thought that would have given Hakstol a long rope, but something is happening right now because he admitted it.
One of the things I wonder about is whether they are considering a promotion, Dan Bylsma who is the head coach of their American Hockey League team in the Coachella Valley. I wondered if that was one of the people they were considering. But there is no doubt that they are looking at the possibility of something bigger. And I have to admit that I was surprised.”
