Could the Hurricanes Finally Break Their 20-Year Curse? Rod Brind’Amour’s Bold Quest for Glory
He took over the job in 2018 after serving as an assistant and immediately changed the club’s trajectory. Carolina snapped its long playoff drought in 2018-19 and reached the Eastern Conference Final that spring. The Hurricanes have made the playoffs every season since, transforming from an afterthought into a regular presence in late May and June.
The journey came with scars. Between 2009 and 2025, Carolina posted a combined 1-17 record in conference final games, including sweeps at the hands of Boston and Florida and another lopsided loss to the Panthers. Brind’Amour’s own future briefly came into question in 2024, when contract talks turned tense as he pushed for a deal that reflected his record and Jack Adams Award. The sides ultimately agreed, and that decision now looms large for the Hurricanes, who are a win away from the Cup.
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