Being an NHL head coach is incredibly hard. Obviously, I don't have firsthand knowledge of that, but recent trends around the league would suggest that is the case. There have been ten head coaching changes or firings since the start of this season, and almost three-quarters of the teams in the league have changed their head coach since the start of last season.
Only three active head coaches were hired before the start of the new decade. Tampa Bay's Jon Cooper has been around the longest, which makes plenty of sense given the Bolts' success. Colorado's Jared Bednar is second, joining the Avalanche before the 2016-17 season. Right behind him, seven years into his tenure, is the Carolina Hurricanes' Rod Brind'Amour.
Part of the sweeping changes the organization made during the 2018 offseason, Brind'Amour was all too familiar with how things worked within the organization. From his ten seasons in Raleigh as a player to his time in player development and as an assistant coach, no one knows what being a Hurricane means more than him.
Successful since Day 1
Obviously, success on the ice is a key factor in maintaining your standing as a head coach. Under Brind'Amour, the Hurricanes have made the playoffs in all seven seasons, winning a series in each, won the division three times, and advanced to the conference finals twice. The only thing missing from his resume is a Stanley Cup Final appearance and win, something Cooper and Bednar have.
He's done it without having a star-studded team. Sebastian Aho is the closest thing to a superstar that the Carolina Hurricanes have had during his seven seasons. Jaccob Slavin is one of the premier shutdown defensemen in the league, but he'll likely never be in Norris Trophy contention because he doesn't score much. Plus, depending on who you ask, goaltending has been a constant "issue."
He reached a major milestone this season, securing his 300th career victory in December with a victory over the Devils. This victory made him the fastest coach to 300 wins in NHL history. Along with being the team's winningest coach in the playoffs, he's on his way to surpassing Paul Maurice for the most victories in the organization's history, though he likely won't hit that until 2026-27.
The Hurricanes embody their head coach
As a player, Rod Brind'Amour was far from the flashiest player in the league. However, he prided himself on a hard-nosed, two-way game, winning a pair of Selkes in 2006 and 2007. His attitude and preparedness have carried into his coaching style, with the expectation that his teams will be tough on the forecheck and willing to do anything for the betterment of the team.
The captains during his tenure, Justin Williams and Jordan Staal, are perfect examples of the types of players Brind'Amour loves. Sometimes, he's loyal to a fault, especially when you ask fans about Brent Burns' playing time and role with the team this season. However, you'll rarely hear opposing coaches talk about anything other than how tough a team they are to play against.
In a day and age when coaches drop like flies, having a consistent voice behind the bench in Raleigh has been wonderful. Rod Brind'Amour has already lasted three times longer than the NHL average. He's far from perfect, but there is no one I'd rather lead this team. We can criticize some of his decisions all we want. I'd much rather that than ride the carousel every year looking for a new coach.