Paul Maurice Returns, Francis Goes Behind The Bench
by Cory Lavalette on Dec 3, 2008 12:51 PM EST
43 comments
[caption id="attachment_2708" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Maurice behind the Carolina bench."]
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The Hurricanes reached into their past today, with GM Jim Rutherford replacing Stanley Cup-winning coach Peter Laviolette with Paul Maurice. Maurice coached the team for more than eight seasons and was replaced by Laviolette about five years ago.
Also joining the staff is NHL Hall of Famer Ron Francis, who will be an associate coach on Maurice's staff, joining Kevin McCarthy and Tom Rowe behind the bench. All titles remain the same, with McCarthy as associate head coach and Rowe as assistant coach, according to Kyle Hanlin, manager of media relations with the team. (Thanks to Kyle for confirming this)
Maurice and Francis did not sign long-term deals and will have the positions for the balance of the season, then be evaluated to determine the future direction of the coaching staff.
"We've put this structure in place for this year," Rutherford said about the coaching staff.
In 11 seasons as an NHL head coach, Maurice has compiled a 344-357-137 record. In 2005-06, he was 41-29 with Toronto's AHL affiliate, the Marlies, before replacing Pat Quinn as the Maple Leafs' bench boss before the 2006-07.
Maurice was very gracious in talking about both Laviolette and the position.
"A good man isn't coaching the Carolina Hurricanes again," Maurice said of Laviolette.
Rutherford repeated those thoughts.
"It wasn't about [the players having] confidence in the coach or the system," he said. "It was confidence in themselves."
That's what led to Rutherford placing a call to Maurice. And the chance to return "home" was all the convincing the ex-Canes and Leafs coach needed. His decision to accept the job was sealed by "the opportunity to work with a group of people you completely trust and have been very successful.
"From a personal point of view, this is home. I couldn't pass that up."
While Rutherford praised Laviolette, it was clear that there were still tensions that first cropped up publicly this offseason when Rutherford questioned Laviolette's decision to not hold exit interviews following a disappointing season.
Both Rutherford and Maurice hammered home that there will be an emphasis on re-establishing one-on-one relationships between the players and coaching staff. Rutherford said he considered Maurice's ability to do that one of his strong suits.
Maurice also stressed that the team would keep the attacking style that was brought in under Laviolette, but there would be adjustments on the defensive side to better evaluate when the team should be aggressive and when they should play conservatively — another criticism Rutherford had of Laviolette following last season.
As for Francis, it will be his first time behind the bench as a coach. Rutherford said that, like Maurice, Francis should help in reaching out in the locker room and making the players more comfortable with their roles. Rutherford even mentioned — albeit briefly — that perhaps not everyone in the locker room had been accepted, and that team chemistry and rebuilding confidence are the main tasks at hand.
"Take friendship aside, I wouldn't do this if I didn't think [Maurice] and Ron were the right two to turn things around," Rutherford said.
Francis admitted to being both excited and nervous about his new position.
"I wasn't looking for this," "Francis said. "At the end of the day, I thought I'd give it an opportunity."
Jason Karmanos will fill the front office void left by Francis' journey to the bench, again being named vice president and assistant general manager, positions he held 1998-2007.
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(A) Subtle and thankfully some specified adjustments in the style of play that hopefully includes PHYSICALITY and stronger players, (B) team chemistry, and © rebuilding confidence (POSITIVE team psychology that has been damaged and perhaps Lavi – albeit a class-act – has lost control of) that includes more gametime emotion.
These were THANKFULLY all acknowleged discussed today in Canes news articles or in the press conference. Talk is cheap, but hopefully these are followed-up on. That is a good recipe and what we all want.
Onward!!
by SamsonovFan on Dec 3, 2008 1:13 PM EST reply actions
I’ll admit that watching the press conference made me feel a little better about this situation… We needed a coaching change… but when I heard it was going to be Maurice I was a little baffled… but after hearing the three of them speak I am somewhat hopeful that they can still turn this thing around….
we’ll see….
by Mateo on Dec 3, 2008 1:21 PM EST reply actions
I will make this my final post on this topic, as I am sure you are all tired of hearing my negativity towards this.
Paul Maurice is really good at talking and making grand gestures, but history has shown he is no better at fixing the issues that plague us than the man we just gave the boot.
by wylde4canesHatesJR on Dec 3, 2008 1:25 PM EST reply actions
Alright, Cory, Bubba….you’ve gotten the professional “news” part out of the way. Let’s have an opinion.
I think this is the biggest WTF move in the history of the NHL. I also have to agree with the sentiment East of Here expressed to me on the phone this morning “The team is trying to alienate the fan base”.
by janeybell on Dec 3, 2008 1:25 PM EST reply actions
So, on to another topic (kinda) does this mean the morning skate is back?
by wylde4canesHatesJR on Dec 3, 2008 1:35 PM EST reply actions
Well… if the morning skate is back… that’s a bonus… I RSVP’d to the season ticket holder morning skate today :-D
Does this mean that Williams and Maurice will be having their first games back… the same game?
by Mateo on Dec 3, 2008 1:47 PM EST reply actions
Wrong change, Rutherford should have been fired, he has obviously lost his mind….and most of the fans from the look of the posts at LSB and other sites
by Caniac324 on Dec 3, 2008 1:49 PM EST reply actions
I’m so confused and torn as to what to think or feel anymore.
In the NHL has a coach ever been fired and then rehired later for the same team? I’m asuming that it has happened before.
by Caron on Dec 3, 2008 1:54 PM EST reply actions
This is not the change I was hoping for.
Fans better be careful what they wish for. Because if Lavi can get fired like this, they’re favorite player might be the next to go. Anything can happen now.
by Mer on Dec 3, 2008 2:04 PM EST reply actions
correction: their favorite player. Sorry, I’m emotional and can’t type
by Mer on Dec 3, 2008 2:05 PM EST reply actions
Firing the best American coach in history might not be the right idea in the long run, but right now, I can see why. Bringing Maurice back? That one is a mystery. If the team makes the playoffs, JR will look like a genius. If not, I think Ronny will be the head guy behind the bench, and because he is who he is, will have a long leash, perhaps 2-3 years to make a deep playoff run.
In any case, Lavi won’t be unemployed for very long.
by Mojo on Dec 3, 2008 2:11 PM EST reply actions
Janey,
C’mon two words “Anson Carter”
This is the second biggest WTF….
I dunno, I’m tickled. I think they should of done it a year ago, but hey. Look for a real wierd game Thursday. I think these two guys will play the hot sticks. Man I hope we can get Gleason and Walker back fast.
I also worry that Mer is right, if this doesn’t turn around fairly well and fairly quick, we are going to see some roster changes that will hurt.
BTW, “winningest American coach” is a BS snivvle. Torts could go with ANY team and hold the title within a month while Lavi’s out. I think Lavi’s detroyed as many teams as he’s made.
Look at this way, this is what we got now. None of us liked what we had. At least give Mo-Ron (sorry, I couldn’t resist) until the end of January. That’s when the rubbers gonna hit the road. It’s either working/winning or teams that are working will want to scavange our carcass. Either way, we are along for the ride.
In all honesty Mo, Ron, Rowe and McCarthy is a pretty dam good bench. Not to mention Barrasso et al. I like it. I think this will help. It will at least show who’s here to play hockey and who ain’t.
I’m going with two thumbs up, albeit a year or so too late.
A- God I hope “Mo-Ron” doesn’t stick
by Paladin6 on Dec 3, 2008 2:32 PM EST reply actions
Paladin,
Let’s be honest, with your major hate on for Lavi, you would be tickled if the had replaced him with Chim Chim the coaching monkey.
I think it was time to move one, ( uh maybe Monday would have been a little bit better, but what do I know)but seriously, move on in a responsible manner.
by wylde4canesHatesJR on Dec 3, 2008 2:38 PM EST reply actions
P6 – I like the name (not to disrespect them yet – I’ll give ‘em a chance – I just think it’s cute) BTW I do read your posts, I just forget who writes what… :)
So, I see that ‘vote of confidence’ two weeks ago really was the kiss of death.
Well, it is what it is. Onward and (hopefully) upward in the standings!!!
by Andrea on Dec 3, 2008 2:49 PM EST reply actions
interesting conclusion Andrea. The same vote of confidence was given to Mo at the time he was talking to Lavi. We now know the warning signs…….
by wylde4canesHatesJR on Dec 3, 2008 2:53 PM EST reply actions
Wylde,
True, guilty as charged.
Betcha a beer the games get more fun to watch, though!
Chim Chim, didn’t he used to coach in jersey?
A ;-)
by Paladin6 on Dec 3, 2008 2:55 PM EST reply actions
Bubba and Cory,
I can’t wait to see the next Canes Country points questions. Oh the fun is starting already!!!
A
by Paladin6 on Dec 3, 2008 2:58 PM EST reply actions
Yes he did Paladin, but now he is back to just being their GM.
by wylde4canesHatesJR on Dec 3, 2008 3:00 PM EST reply actions
All I can really say in my shockened state, is that I’m very eager and anxious to feel the strange vibes in the RBC center tomorrow night.
by T-Leaf on Dec 3, 2008 3:02 PM EST reply actions
Paladin6,
I agree with you. Let’s see what happens until January. If we want them to pick it up and play their butts off, then we as fans should reciprocate. If anyone listened to the press conference Mo did give Caniac Nation huge props. If people were ready to run him out of town for Lavi, then Mo seems to have a short memory. I am as disappointed as anyone else with this season, but I think that on Thurs, Sat, and Sun we should be the loud Caniacs that he referenced. We should be the Hockey version of basketball’s “sixth man”. I don’t want the Caniac Nation to even remotely resemble the whiney, fair-weathered, Toronto crowd. Who would want to play for fans that boo them every night? I am married to lifelong Cubs fan (I’m sure you can sympathize) so I know what it REALLY means to lose. We should do as Cubs fans do…. tip up our beer and cheer our heads off anyway because they are OUR Hurricanes and if they weren’t here where would we go for our hockey fix? If they lost every game for the rest of the season but played their hearts out on the ice, I would be O.K. with that. Look on the bright side…. at least we don’t have “Sideshow Sean” (Avery) on our team!
by MB on Dec 3, 2008 3:03 PM EST reply actions
Paul Maurice is a loser just look at his overall record. Get ready for more dump and chase clog the middle no pinching from the blue line. BORING, BORING. Lavi was not the problem lack of execution from our 1st two lines and special teams is why this team is struggling. If you can’t score you can’t win. I hope I’m wrong but Paul Maurice is not the answer.
by mike on Dec 3, 2008 3:10 PM EST reply actions
JR has had a ton of patience and loyalty to a post-cup, oft injured championship team. I don’t think he really wanted to go into the rebuilding stage, but his patience wore thin. I just think he’s trying to regroup – and go with what he knows & feels comfortable with. This season may / may not be a wash. We’ll just have to wait and see.
by marc on Dec 3, 2008 3:18 PM EST reply actions
Hey on the flipside of this, Chip at LSB has to be happy. People are actually leaving comments on his blog! That is, other than the “This the best you got, Chip?” variety.
LSB has not had that kind of traffic since Luke handed the reigns over.
by wylde4canesHatesJR on Dec 3, 2008 3:26 PM EST reply actions
Sorry Pete, hate to see ya go, but nothing has been happening buddy, and somebody wasn’t getting it done, and your the fall guy.
Mo is back though? Strange bringing him back. I never knew him (joined this bandwagon in 05). I hope he can do something, but seeing all of everyone’s negativity on here bout him, not so sure now.
Well, it’s a big move, and were all on board for the ride!!!!
by Ivan on Dec 3, 2008 3:46 PM EST reply actions
off topic, who is the player on the far right, beside of Jeff (who looks like French Stewart in that pic) Daniels? The stick is obscuring his face enough for me to not be sure. That looks like the infamous Aaron Ward “Kazoo” helmet but the face don’t look right.
by wylde4canesHatesJR on Dec 3, 2008 4:02 PM EST reply actions
wyldercanes
I think that is Marty Gelineas (please excuse my spelling, it stinks).
by MB on Dec 3, 2008 4:12 PM EST reply actions
which reminds me, you still haven’t given me a schedule of your games, dude.
by wylde4canesHatesJR on Dec 3, 2008 4:25 PM EST reply actions
Ok, this move can actually work. Maurice never had players that can really score in the line up. He can institute his defensive style and then wait for the opposition to make a mistake and boom. Biscuit in the basket. Interesting…never saw that comming.
by Ken on Dec 3, 2008 4:51 PM EST reply actions
Wylde – it also happened to Melrose right before he got the axe a month ago. So it’s not unique to JR. It was commented on at the time by P6 and packpigskinfan.
“Vote of confidence” = “Kiss of death”?
by Andrea on Dec 3, 2008 4:53 PM EST reply actions
The one that should be fired, is Jim Rutherford! He is a scum sucking phony!
by carole on Dec 3, 2008 5:14 PM EST reply actions
We’ll take Lavi in Tampa but then again, who would want to come to this circus?
by Ruthe on Dec 3, 2008 5:57 PM EST reply actions
I cannot wait to gain some insight into the psychology of the coaching and locker-room over the last couple months of the spring and these past few months. This is a classy organization and I don’t want mud-slinging, but maybe now folks will speak more freely and/or hint at what was actually the mindset and what was being “felt” as folks experienced this culture and this mood. I am soooo curious. There seemed like a cloud of negativity. Lavi must have lost the team…. probably not completely and in the classic but in a way that did not seem like things could improve and sunnier days could re-emerge. I know the value of a “poker face” in coaches dealing with the press after the game, but there was this detached and almost shell-shocked sense. This was hinted at today in various comments by “insiders” and JR. I think we all wanted Lavi to succeed and respected him… but maybe these “intangibles” got so bad that today’s rather strange decision seemed safe and logical in comparison to continuing with the present reality. Lavi seemed discouraged…. trying his best but the mix of particular players, system-style on ice, injuries, lack-of-physicality, emotional makeup and psychological strategies of Lavi and the team, etc, etc. were all too much to overcome at this snapshot in time and with this specific mix of these variables.
This “mood” and sense of discouragement seemed to reinforce itself and things spiraled beyond control and beyond repair.
JR is trying… over the last year he has made moves and tried to fix things and/or shore-up what was perceived as weaknesses. At least he is actively trying to solve the situation. I will admit, though, that going back to Maurice is odd. At least there is a good team of coaches behind the bench who will all be involved in improving things. No risk, no reward. As a fan, I also just want to think: ONWARD AND UPWARD. Moving forward, staying positive and cautiously optimistic, and looking to the future. * The signals we send as this “new” (OK… more like "revisited") era begins will make a difference to the team. I’d rather not undermine everything by a preemptive vote of no-confidence, no matter how much it may be deserved or how discouraged we are…. I don’t think it is constructive or helpful at this point. At least it isn’t to me… my Canes-specific emotions are too delicate and I need something to believe in :) *
by SamsonovFan on Dec 3, 2008 6:22 PM EST reply actions
I was on the ax band wagon real early. I think the writing was on the wall when he skipped the post season meetings. That’s just one of those things. I batted that around with the fact he is passionate and that was heartbreaker of a way to get the boot from the second season. I just couldn’t get over the fact that was the second time in a row. In hind sight, I think he, JR, PK and several of the players knew at that moment the hour glass got turned over. The injuries, the attitude and the coach being on the bubble created the mindset and the failure so far of the team. That’s why I think and have begged for a coaching change. It really isn’t so much Lavi as the facts. Shit got outta hand. I think he has ahistory of that. Mo does too. The change is the key though, I think. It’s a catalyst. It’s the proverbial snowflake rolling down the hill. If it can be dealt with and directed, things will look up. If the flow is allowed to continue without guidance, I feel the team will go through an even uglier phase come late January. The upside is that instead of Lavi having been chained with all this baggage and beating the shit out of this one style and his own way of working it out and pretty much not getting a lot of support from the team and only enough rope from managment to hang himself, we get (worlds biggest friggin’ sentence..) a new guy that’s comfy with the money guys. This creates a rebirth of opportunity.
Look, Mo ain’t on the at the top of most peoples list. Somebody compared this to Bush. That’s sorta of the advantage here. Mo comes in and takes all the heat. He isn’t stupid or inept beyond all belief. He’s made more money coaching NHL teams than most of us combined. he has had success, he lives and breathes the game, it’s his life. So can you take this man and put him in a place and support him enough to get the team to get thier shit together? Peak over the top of Mo’s slightly less hair and look at the bench, both rows. We have a talent pool, youth and some vets. Little bit small, but fast. can you field a good team? I think it’s coming. There is just the issue of the big money guys getting thier shit together. While many may worry about Mo being a yes man, Ron knows more about real ice hockey than most of them. Barrasso has the same perspective. Rowe’s a bit green, but, thank God has been shielded from his respo. in this situation by this move. Ron may move up and in, Rowe may, or Mo may. You just got rid of one talented man, that couldn’t and put in 3 (three) that may. Pretty good spray and pray. Not to mention that if the coaches can even pretend to be on the same page, even Brindy can’t say he’s done such and such, or knows such and such. The team has been called out and been put on notice. I think they will respond. I also think they will struggle getting back into it, but we will see instant changes. The life and spark from the Ruutu’s and Sutters will now catch on. They are still gonna give up odd rushing and bone plays, but I think they will now start to win and lose as a team.
That is worth 2 mill of PK money any day and I will spend it freely at any point for him if asked.
Ward and Leighton have been hung out to dry like diapers. I think Mo will get the D to help them alot more. He’s also gonna need the D boys to step up on the bring in. This will force the forwards to play a phuckin’ 2 way game like they are supposed to. It will expose those that are playing like crazy and those that ain’t. As this get’s sorted out we are gonna get hit, lose games and maybe an injury or two. I also think if one of our boys get’s a melon crusher you will see a respo.
That alone earns Mo a shot. Just give it a chance. If he fails I’ll buy the rope and tie the noose for as many as you want. Just give these guys a chance. The team has the ability and with a little luck the coaches and mng. won’t bone it and we will get some fun hockey again. may not win, but we are going to show up. We are going to get the things we do good better, the things we suck at, we will learn. Watch the PP, that’s the first spark. Over the next couple games, it may look nasty, but we will get more shots on goall on the pp. It may just be a run in and one shot and they fall back and bring it back in, etc. That’s better than dumping it in, no shots and watching a short handed rush.
Just give the guys a chance. I may not be right or even have a clue, but, what if i am right? Saying hang the SOB before he even runs a practice is pretty anti success. Let’s rally behind the guyss and scream our heads off. If shit goes bad we scream our asses off for the heads of the pukes that failed us….again!
I have hope this will be good, probably not the final deal. this wreaks of another longer term plan by JR and I think it’s a succed or rebuild, but hey. I love hockey, these are my guys. We have anew shot at getting back into the fray.
F-N-A
GO CANES!!!!!!!!!!!
or at least die trying.
A
by Paladin6 on Dec 3, 2008 7:02 PM EST reply actions
^
^
LOL, nice post. I thought you were done “That is worth 2 mill of PK money any day and I will spend it freely at any point for him if asked.” and then the words just started spitting out again on the page.
At first I was shocked, but after listening and reading comments I think this might turn out well and if it does we we will be singing JR’s praises again over the summer. I wonder who they were referring to when JR mentioned some players still have not accepted others?
by hotchipsnsalsa on Dec 3, 2008 7:33 PM EST reply actions
I tend to ramble…some…on occaision….every now and again…..
:-)
Ditto on the locker room chemistry. I believe we will find out soon enough..
A
by Paladin6 on Dec 3, 2008 7:56 PM EST reply actions
Wow, Paladin – not used to seeing you with a sunnier outlook – but I can agree with you on this one. In the offseason, I remember taking the brighter side of the your darker assessment, and this time I think we flipped, but your new assessment makes sense. I will take a wait and see attitude.
by marc on Dec 3, 2008 8:20 PM EST reply actions
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