Bill Peters has resigned as head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, setting a search for a new bench boss as another item on the agenda of a busy offseason, the team announced Friday.
It was reported earlier in the offseason that Peters had an out clause for the final year of his contract, and would have made $1.6 million with the Hurricanes next season. Friday was the final day for Peters to exercise the out clause, and he did just that amid rumors that the Alberta native is a frontrunner for the Calgary Flames’ coaching vacancy.
“I have a lot of respect for Bill as a person and coach,” owner Tom Dundon said in the team’s official release. “We thank him for his time with the Hurricanes and wish him success in whatever comes next.”
The Canes missed the playoffs in all four seasons of Peters’ tenure as the coach compiled a 137-138-53 record, extending the longest active playoff drought in the NHL to nine seasons. A hallmark of Peters’ tenure was strong puck possession teams done in by poor goaltending and finishing ability, as Carolina finished in the bottom five of the league in team save percentage and bottom third in goal scoring in all four years.
Peters is now free to explore other jobs across the NHL, with rumors already connecting him to both the Flames and Dallas Stars.
“I want to thank Tom Dundon, Peter Karmanos and Ron Francis for the trust they put in me to lead the team,” Peters said. “I feel the incoming general manager should have the ability to hire his own head coach. I also want to thank Don Waddell and the entire front office and PNC Arena staff. This business requires hard work and long hours, and I greatly appreciate the efforts of the many people I have worked alongside during the past four years. We enjoyed our time in Raleigh, and my family will always feel a connection to North Carolina. I feel like this is a good time to move on, and I am looking forward to my next challenge.”
The Canes now find themselves searching for both a general manager, as Ron Francis was reassigned in March, and a head coach. It stands to reason the GM hire will likely come first, with that person having a large amount of input in who the next head coach will be.
If the Canes decide to go with an internal option, assistant coach and former team captain Rod Brind’Amour and Charlotte Checkers head coach and assistant general manager Mike Vellucci are likely the top two options.
External options for the position include Dave Tippett, Alain Vigneault and Dan Bylsma, as well as other coaches that may be dismissed throughout the course of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and offseason.
