Brind'Amour: Friday night will be 'special'

Retired Carolina Hurricanes center Rod Brind’Amour went on a teleconference with media members Tuesday in advance of a banner bearing his name being raised in the RBC Center rafters before Friday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Hurricanes are retiring his No. 17 sweater.

Brind’Amour spent nine seasons with the Flyers (and also played three seasons with the St. Louis Blues).

“I’m grateful that the team would pick that night,” Brind’Amour said on the call, noting that the Hurricanes didn’t consult him about doing it that night.

Brind’Amour said the day he was traded to Carolina from the Flyers “one of the worst days in my career.”

“It was an extremely tough time for me,” he said.

But he’s now grateful to be part of the Carolina Hurricanes organization, where he played 10 seasons and won his first and only Stanley Cup in 2006.

“I know I’ll be remembered as a Hurricanes, and that image of me holding the Cup around here is etched into stone,” Brind’Amour said. “I’m grateful that I’m remembered at all.”

And he’s tickled about Friday’s honor.

“It’ll be special to look up and see that every time you look up there,” said Brind’Amour, who took a position in the Hurricanes front office staff after being pressured to retire after last season.

He twice won the Selke Trophy, awarded to the NHL forward demonstrating the most defensive skill, with the Hurricanes in 2006 and 2007, but, as was also noted by a reporter, scored at least 100 points twice in his career (with the Flyers).

“I don’t know how I want to be remembered,” Brind’Amour said. “I do like that that award in the last few years has gone to a guy who not only plays well in his own but can score. … I take pride in that. I liked playing in both ends of the rhink, but I also put up some numbers.”