My in-box is already filling up with emails from fans perplexed by and angry with the Hurricanes' re-hiring of Paul Maurice as head coach. (Presumably after they've left their angry comment over on LSB.) After all, Maurice was fired five years ago for his failure to fix the same problems that got Peter Laviolette fired.
You can read more about that in tomorrow's N&O, but here are a few points to consider.
1. Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford made it clear that Maurice's tenure as head coach and Ron Francis' tenure as his No. 2 behind the bench will be a short-term proposition — the remainder of this season only, unless they show results.
Now, the flip side is, what counts as results? Would getting close to the playoffs and not making it count?
And then there's the coach-under-pressure phenomenon, which helped hinder Laviolette (and I argued against before the season). Maurice acknowledged that:
"The weight of any individual game is blown out of proportion," Maurice said. "A 3-2 loss becomes, 'How could you lose to that team?' I don't think a lot of teams play well under that kind of pressure."
2. Maurice said all the right things about sticking with Laviolette's system, but he was already paving the way for a return to a more conservative approach.
Among his comments: Only three teams in the Eastern Conference ran a two-man forecheck last season, Carolina, Toronto and Buffalo, and none made the playoffs; "When they're going, they're a hard team to handle," Maurice said of the Canes, "but for more frequent and longer stretches you can control the game and get to them;" "You need a fallback position when things aren't going well."
In other words, he acknowledges that this team is built around Laviolette's style and he's willing to give it a go, but he's prepared to switch if he doesn't see results.
3. I feel bad for Maurice. He's a good guy who Wednesday acknowledged that he should have been fired when he was fired, and that after being coach for so long the players had tuned him out.
But he's going to bear the brunt of fan anger over what will no doubt be perceived as yet another easy-way-out move by Rutherford and Peter Karmanos, turning to an old friend instead of a high-profile coach from outside the organization.
After all, the last time the Canes did that, hiring Laviolette, they won the Stanley Cup.
Maurice is a comfortable hire for Rutherford, and possibly a cheap one as well depending on his contract status with the Leafs (still checking on that), but you could make the argument that Rutherford needs a coach more willing to question his decisions, as Laviolette was.
Luke has worked for The N&O since 2000. He covered the Carolina Hurricanes and the NHL before becoming a sports columnist in August 2008. A native of Evanston, Ill., he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He can be reached at 829-8947 or 
Comments
random thoughts
Thu, 12/04/2008 - 10:43 — HockeydogFirst off, thanks Luke for a good article. Please come back as the Hurricanes main writer, we need you hockey experience. On that note, Maurice commented on the 2 man forecheck.
I think that will soon be phased out, and it will be a good thing. Plenty of exciting high scoring teams do not employ the 2 man forecheck. If you look at the Leafs team Mo coached it was nothing like the dump and chase he employed here. The Leafs team AND this incarnation of the Hurricanes have more talent than the players Maurice had his first go round. I doubt we will see that boring style from the team this go 'round, but maybe a little more conservative approach might do this team well. Maybe the team wouldn't disappear as much if they were in more games in the 3rd period, or they were not giving up the first goal of the game on an odd-man rush.
Listen, you can play almost any style and be an exciting team. Teams are exciting because they have good players.
This team has enough skill to be exciting if they are not behind the 8 ball right away.
i am going to give Maurice a chance here. He's older and has more under his belt than his first tenure here. Having Ron Francis is not a bad thing. Francis doesn't have to run the bench during a game, he just needs to watch and teach.
Bad Timing
Thu, 12/04/2008 - 00:44 — irbefanI personally disagree with the decision announced today. I would prefer Laviolette over Maurice behind the bench in any game. However, I do think that something needed to happen. Laviolette was not producing changes in the team, whether that be his fault or not. But does no one in this organization think? Let's take a look shall we...
This is terrible timing to make a coaching change! Look at our next two weeks worth of games... Pittsburgh, Philadelphia twice, Washington, and the New York Rangers. Four of the top teams right now in the NHL. If we don't win three or four of those five games, the fans will become restless, the players will get another blow of confidence swept away, and Maurice might panic. Why, oh why, on God's green Earth didn't we make this change after our losses to Atlanta twice and Washington 5-1 at home. A three game losing skid would have marked the final straw for any other general manager.
I wish Paul and Ron all the best in the upcoming games. Hopefully they will produce some better results then what we have now. I truly believe that this team is on the verge of greatness, maybe shaking things up will be a nice wake-up call.
Go Canes
You hit the nail on the head
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 21:08 — reelpirate"Maurice is a comfortable hire for Rutherford, and possibly a cheap one as well"
They are into Laviolette for a lot of money. They probably got Maurice for almost nothing, and Ron is already on the payroll. I think JR knows he has a group of players that are probably too highly paid considering the effort they put forth on the ice, and there is no way the organization was going to put more money into a new coach. I think you can look for the soft attendance numbers this year to get even worse.
Please report the facts
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 21:05 — Vjgtrybno1Luke, why did you leave out PM's final comment about the two man forecheck - what he said was that only 3 teams in the east ran it and none made the playoffs, true - BUT then he added - but the team that won the Stanley Cup also ran it.
But that wouldn't support your point, correct?
The day Lavi admitted that he had no idea why the team was so inconsistent is the day it was all over for him. If the coach is clueless about something so fundamental, it's time for him to go.
Having said that, I really like him, thank him for the Cup run and wish him the best.
Re: the Red Wings
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 21:35 — ldecock (author)I think anyone who was there recognized his comment about Detroit for what it was — a joke on his part. Even the most fervent Hurricanes booster would have a hard time arguing this team is anything like the Red Wings, last year or this year.
Besides, my point was, you didn't have to read too far between the lines to see where this might be headed. Maurice made plenty of pro-forecheck statements. I didn't mention those specifically, either.
friendship thick
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 20:16 — rjq2185Paul Maurice and Jim Rutherford are old friends. That's probably the reason Paul is back. Jim doesn't have to go searching for someone who would be an unknown quantity to the fans here. Give Maurice some breathing room. He learned a lot as head coach of the Maple Leafs. That's like getting a doctorate at Oxford. If you think the pressure is tough here, its nothing compared to what goes on in the Holy Land of Hockey. Keep an open mind about Maurice. After all he might just be mentoring Ron Francis in hopes Francis wants to be a head coach.
Recycling is all the rage.
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 18:29 — im4unc23Must be something in the air this week.
http://www.sportsfanlive.com/web/poll?pollId=6821334
To your first point, I think
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 17:01 — caneshockeyfanTo your first point, I think anything less than playoffs equals failure. 16 of 30 NHL teams make the playoffs. You can be below 50th percentile and get in.
To your second point, as a fan I'm more concerned with seeing the creative flair and speed through the neutral and offensive zones WITH THE PUCK that we saw in the Cup year. Where has that gone? I don't really care how many guys they send in on the forecheck. Maybe I'm just naive but if the team is great at getting the puck back, only to turn it right over again, it doesn't much matter. Speed through the zones, shoot, crash the net. I'm so sick of watching them dump the puck when they have opportunities to maintain possession.
To your third point, you're right about Maurice. He's a good guy and I've always appreciated his dry wit. But he's a big boy and he had to know what he was getting himself into when he accepted JR's offer. Sports fans seem to have a short memory; if the team can rattle off a couple of wins we'll be singing Maurice's praises.
could see this coming
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 16:33 — SubwayScoundrelI see where people want Rowe and I can see that in the future but I don't see Rowe taking over this team now. He has a half a season in the NHL. I think Mo is a good stopgap for a half a season. Lavi' system means a small amount of forwards playing defense and that is not what the NHL is today. Mo is more of a protect you own end type coach and that is what is being played. I sat through all the Mo years in the RBC and I think a half season to prove is OK.
Are the players the best. No, but they should be able to play better. Lavi should have done simple things like shorten shifts, given players like Staal less time when he was playing bad and done something other than one system and keep cramming that down the other teams throat shift after shift.
I like Lavi and hate to see him go but something has to change. I see where certain people say, "JR does not care about what the fans think". Geeezz I hope JR does not care what some of the fans say. Let JR lead and make choices. Lavi lasted a shorter amount of time on the island for the same reasons. Again, hate to see him go but they had to do something.
Maybe now, Staal will actually play with some effort
Thanks for giving us the
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 16:09 — John_BurnsThanks for giving us the perspective of an actual hockey writer!
Really? Seriously.
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 16:08 — lbloomerCome on people. Maurice wasn't that bad. Yes, they kept him past his expiration date but he was able to get a mediocre team past the first round of the playoffs and all the way to the finals.
I think we needed to shake up the team and get things straight at center - Brind'Amour has gone from Selke to sucky since his knee surgery. Can Mo tell the captain to sit a few games and get healthy? I think a -16 makes a case for that. And Staal needs to start watching his brother Jordan and start skating instead of moping around the ice like a prima donna. Skate Eric, SKATE!
Also, with Cam out with a "groin" injury, can we finally gets some goaltending? Leighton is probably good enough.
We have enough talent for 3 solid lines - that can get us to the playoffs and I think Maurice might be able to pull it off...
WELCOME TO MO'S!
GO CANES!
yes Rowe
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 15:53 — esteban1949Personally I'd rather have Rowe and the team NOT even finish or get a wild card spot in the playoffs...than to see Mo back...but seeing i don't own stock,have any kind of a vested intrest in the owership or operations of the carolina Hurricanes hockey club,INC, LLC or abc &XYZ...so who in the ront office will take what I have to say seriously ? gee i feel just a warm and fuzzy as im teated the same way by my state and federal legistlators...see situation "normal"
Go Rats !! ( Albany Rats that is !!)
Hmmm.
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 15:29 — NetMinderLavi gone. Mo back. Ronnie Franchise associate coach. Something doesn't smell right. Where does that leave assistant coach Tom Rowe and the other associate coach Kevin McCarthy?
The bottom line is we've resurrected Mo, dusted him off, put him behind the bench and given him the rest of the season to turn things around. Oh, and to make damn sure it's deja vu all over again, Ron Francis will be there, too. Haven't we met in a previous life?
Okay, so now that we've travelled back in time, what's next? We've got the same cast of characters, the same injuries, a PP that sucks, a "D" that's depleted and three really good teams salivating at the prospect of taking the ice against the Canes. Hardly a recipe for quieting the boo birds and turning the RBC Center back into the loudest house in the NHL.
Where's Nelson Emerson, Robert Kron and Trevor Kidd when you need them?
Lets face it...
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 14:29 — jonl355Lets face it, we have a mediocre team. Here's why... After we won the Cup, almost nothing was done to improve the Canes. We replaced good players with average ones, we had 3 pivotal players over age 36 - a reciepe for injuries, our farm system was totally depleted. We spent it all on winning the cup and it was time to rebuild the team at that time. JR didnt want to see this - and he doesn't see it now. Thats why he fires an excellent coach when it was the quality of players that's the problem. We need to rebuild the team. And regarding how unpopular the Maurice move is - if they start winning again all will be forgiven.
As much as I did'nt want to
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 14:23 — sparks1As much as I did'nt want to see LaViolette fired, the run and gun style has played itself out. It served us well, but now it's time to get back to keeping the puck out of our own net as job #1.
Go canes. Win the SE!!
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 14:10 — vdotuGo canes. Win the SE!!
By the way, has this EVER
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 14:09 — CharlotteCaniacBy the way, has this EVER happened before?
I have never heard of a professional sports team firing, then re-hiring a coach.
If so, nice precedent to be attached to, Rutherford. On the surface it reeks of incompetance.
Billy
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 18:32 — ericf123058Billy Martin actually went 91-54 one year after being hired, fired, hired, fired and hired again in New York. Robinson did pretty well in three separate stints, I think, in New Jersey.
And one other thing about Maurice: He stresses defense, but here are a couple of names who put 20+ in the G column playing for him: Bates Battaglia and Shane Willis. That's more goals than Hall of Fame votes they'll get, combined. And that was in a low-scoring league. Mo had to be doing at least a couple of things right.
Let's give him a chance. Any change is good at this point. Maybe he'll get Pitkanen and Corvo where they should be. Most of these Canes haven't played for him; maybe he'll get their attention. Maybe Ronnie can fix the power play (that alone would put us on a winning streak).
And let's wish Lavi well, because he'll get another job, and I hope it's in the West, because he'll win.
Yes
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 15:35 — PhilcobrownThe New York Yankees with George Steinbrenner firing and rehiring Billy Martin several times.
It has
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 14:45 — scomilCheck out Larry Robinson's career as a coach with the New Jersey Devils: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Robinson
Ever Happened Before
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 14:43 — JustListenenYes, the New York Yankees and Billy Martin ... multiple times!
What about common sense?
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 13:52 — bewhitakerDid JR really think this was going to be a positive thing? We have a few open minded posts do far. But for the most part the fans are not HAPPY! So my crystal ball "says" Maurice is already behind the eight ball. If he brings back that boring clog the ice style. They will have to offer free seating to fill the stands at the RBC!. They also made it clear that Paul was better than Lavi and personal relationships. How can you bring home to Stanley Cup? Can you do it with a bad coaching job? Can you do it with a lack of talent? Can you do it with luck? We won a cup with heart and a commitment to doing whatever it takes to win a game. Hiring Maurice does little to bring this back. Tom ROwe would make the most sense. The caps sure made it look like a good idea. Maybe that's why JR did this. To not be like the CAPITALS! Look at the bright side. The TB Lightning new owners still look worse! :-)
JR
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 13:51 — DelvinLet's be realistic here. JR is the new coach.
Ownership and management
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 13:46 — CharlotteCaniacOwnership and management obviously just don't care about the fans opinion. I refuse to believe that Rutherford is so intelligent that he is the only one who is right on hiring Maurice when everyone else who follows this team is confused and sickened by the move. 4 years ago we chanted our lungs out season after season with our opinion that "Mo Must Go". Finally we got our wish and we won a Stanley Cup. I really liked Laviolette, but agree that maybe it was time for him to go. Never in a million years would I have thought the solution would have been to bring Maurice back. This organization has a track record of ignoring public opinion. They did it when they left the fans in Hartford. They did it when Karmanos blamed the fans for losing millions in their first few years here. They did it by hanging on to Maurice well beyond his expiration date. They did it by jacking up ticket prices despite team performance and a recessed market. They did it when they traded Francis and O'Neill for 4th round picks when they could have received much more in the open market. They did it when they traded a fan favorite in Erik Cole. Now they are doing it by re-hiring a coach who has a public opinion rating lower than George W. Bush. Putrid.
Maurice contract
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 13:39 — caniac11Luke,
Maurice is under contract with Toronto for one more year - until this season is up.
PS. Maybe JR will trade Staal for Gerber. He could bring back a friend and screw this team up further.....
Mind-boggling
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 13:33 — Nico37How could they be this out of touch?
Luke, do they have ANY idea how unpopular this is?? I have to think they just don't care. Come hell or high water, Rutherford won't admit he is in any way responsible for the mediocrity of the team. I guess when you know you'll never be held accountable you don't have to care what lowly fans think.
The Hurricanes are playing exactly like what they are: an average team that HE put together. I'm so disgusted with this organization (particularly Rutherford).
I already feel sick thinking about Florida or somebody else snatching Lavi up, ecstatic at their luck in getting a great coach, all while a rival gets exponentially worse.
I have absolutely no doubt that no matter what he says Rutherford's plan is to keep Mo long term.
Said it before, I'll say it again: HUBRIS.
I agree
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 13:33 — Richie7This move makes it obvious that the wrong change was made....JR should have been fired!!!!!!!
What about Rowe?
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 13:17 — scomilI personally didn't want to see a high-profile coach replace Laviolette. I wanted to see Tom Rowe. This seems like a slap in the face to him, rather than the chance he was waiting for as it logically should have been.
Who knows, maybe this will work and I'm certainly going to be open-minded and hopeful that it does, but I don't understand why Rowe wasn't given his chance.
No kidding...
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 16:24 — Godman459Seriously, that was the reason Rowe was brought here wasn't it? To keep Lavi on his toes? The more I think about it, the more this whole thing begins to stink.....