NHL Rumors: 3 Teams Listed as Prime Suitors For Rod Brind'Amour

Now that the Carolina Hurricanes are done for another season, despite high hopes of being a Stanley Cup contender, the perhaps tenuous future of head coach Rod Brind'Amour is making the rounds in NHL circles on Friday.

Three teams have been mentioned as prime suitors interested in Brind'Amour, whose deal has expired in Carolina, and if, somehow, he and the Hurricanes don't re-up on a new one.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs have been mentioned as being interested, and it's believed in some quarters that their delay in naming a new head coach to this point was based on waiting to see what Brind'Amour's status was. Craig Berube is thought to be the leading candidate in Toronto, and in fact, a late Friday afternoon report indicates that a decision is close from the Leafs.

Seattle Kraken

Glenn Dreyfuss of The Hockey News says that the Kraken are now "on coach Brind'Amour Watch" as well. The Kraken let go their first and only head coach in team history, Dave Hakstol, at the conclusion of the regular season. GM Ron Francis and Brind'Amour have a history, both as teammates for several years in Carolina, and then as co-workers, when Brind'Amour was an assistant coach for the Canes under the then-GM Francis.

New Jersey Devils

The Devils are tied to most of the top available coaching candidates, and are considered one of the most sought-after, ready-to-win places for free agent bench bosses heading into next season.

Insider Elliotte Friedman opined today on the Jeff Marek Show that Brind'Amour's contract status is, in fact, the biggest issue facing the Hurricanes going into the offseason, and he isn't so sure that the coach wants to go anywhere.

"Even with everything that's gone on, a lot of people who know Brind'Amour don't think he really wants to leave there."@FriedgeHNIC on what's next for #CauseChaos and Rod Brind'Amour's contract situation with @JeffMarek.

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— Sportsnet 590 The FAN (@FAN590) May 17, 2024

"This is a situation where I believe the coach really sets the tone for the organization. I think they know it's a very different situation if he's not there.

"Even with everything that's gone on, a lot of people who know Brind'Amour don't think he really wants to leave there."

Brind'Amour, in his six seasons as head coach in Carolina, is 278-13-44, a tremendous .664 points percentage, with a Jack Adams Award, two trips to the Conference Finals, and three straight 50-win seasons.