Today’s Daily Cup of Joe addresses a short list of organizational topics.
ECHL affiliate
A couple weeks ago, the Florida Everbladed announced that they would no longer be an affiliate for the Carolina Hurricanes. The team was Karmanos-owned, so the ownership changeover seemingly prompted a reevaluation of their Hurricanes relationship.
I think this has the potential to be a huge positive if the Hurricanes can land an ECHL affiliate that is closer to home. The obvious candidate is the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Adding Greenville as an ECHL affiliate could have multiple positive effects. First, at just a two hour drive to Charlotte and a four-hour drive to Raleigh, such a move could extend the team’s reach and add another satellite fan base that is within driving distance of PNC Arena for a weekend of games. The move could have significant benefit development-wise too. The two-hour distance from Charlotte to Greenville could make it possible for development coaches to spend more time with the few Canes prospects who are playing at the ECHL level.
It will be interesting to see how this shakes out. Having an ECHL affiliate is not an absolute requirement. The possibility exists that the team could do without an ECHL affiliate and just loan out the couple of those players to whoever needs the help.
Mike Bales
On Wednesday, the Hurricanes announced that goalie coach Mike Bales had resigned. Shortly thereafter, Elliotte Friedman from TSN suggested that Bales could be headed to Buffalo.
At a minimum, the move is a curious one. Coming off a winning season with a young team, one would figure the Hurricanes as a rising team and one that a coach would choose to stay a part of. In addition, the prospect of working with a promising young goalie like Alex Nedeljkovic would seem to be a positive. Yet Bales resigned.
The possible reasons are infinite. Ideally, one of the journalists who cover the team will be able to get something on the ‘why’, but who knows if that will happen.
It could be personal reasons. It could be the prospect of more money. Though it seems unlikely, it could be some friction with head coach Rod Brind’Amour. It could have to do with the team’s plans in net next season.
Regardless, the move is at least worth noting to see if it is a one-off or if it instead becomes a trend.
Mike Vellucci
The other coaching situation to watch closely in the coming weeks is Mike Vellucci. Fresh off an impressive season and Calder Cup Championship, Vellucci’s stock has to be rising right now. Keeping Vellucci in Charlotte to continue developing the prospects would be an ongoing win for the Hurricanes. But if Vellucci has bigger or just different aspirations to coach at the NHL level, I would think he could find such an opportunity right now. Here is hoping that Vellucci likes his standing in the organization and his role as an AHL coach for the time being.
What say you Canes fans?
1) What do you think of Greenville as a destination for an ECHL affiliate? Do you have a different preference?
2) What, if anything, do you make of the Mike Bales situation? How much credit does he deserve for the team’s improved goaltending in 2018-19?
3) What are the chances that the Hurricanes can keep Mike Vellucci?
Go Canes!
Greenville, SC is as geographically and demographically perfect for an ECHL affiliate for the Canes as it gets. Booming economically, great uptown as well. As no brainer as it gets.
The combination of an “infinite reasons why” and the vacuum of information will make Bales resignation a litmus test of every fans tendency to be instinctively negative or positive. Healthy organizations have employee turnover and any presumption of “the sky is falling” is premature at best.
Vellucci moved from being an ass’t general manager in Raleigh after the Checkers had 2 coaches hired and resigned in 2 years. In what appeared to be an emergency stop gap manner he filled that gap. His resume is as impressive as a coach in the minors as can be. While under the radar his experience as a GM is extensive and impressive. Every hockey insider sees him as potentially valuable to their organization. You would like to be his agent today.
1) Greenville SC for an AHL affiliate would be perfect, for all the reasons surgalt (Sir Galt?) specifies above.
And, the Ashevillecaniac would have another easy drive destination for a hockey fix.
2) I am disappointed that we lost Bales. Raz and Big Mac both credited him with improving their game, and obviously RBA trusted him. And he has a pretty good track record. Hopefully the leadership by committee will make another great choice in the replacement.
3) As much as I would like to see Vellucci stay, this season would be an excellent springboard for him to take the next step, if that is what he desires. Given the ages of his kids he may also want to stay put for awhile, but the financial metrics are potentially huge.
My impression of goalie coaches is there is a very high turnover rate across the board for the job title. Would love to see if the data supports the impression. My concern is Buffalo wants Mrazek and felt hiring Bales would pave that path.
I am baffled by the Bales resignation. A team rising, a young goalie coming and a great deal of say about who plays. As an assistant coach that is a lot of respect and influence. It’s almost like a dream of what you would want as an assistant. RBA is demanding but fair. It would be a surprise if it were friction. Maybe we will find something out in the future but I can’t explain it.
I am disturbed to see Bales leaving us. I knew very little about him, other than he was a great change from the previous coach.
I read a column on Cardiac Cane this morning where the writer suggested that we sign Mac as the new goalie coach and Pietr with Ned as our new tandem. It makes sense to me, but libraries could be filled with what I don’t know about the situation.
The head coaching situation in the NHL is one where there might not be room for a newly. I hope so. I would like to keep Mike in Charlotte for another season.
Greenville as a new ECHL affiliate? Why not? A good marketing move.
As to a replacement for Michael Ferland? Patrick Maroon becomes a UFA on 7/1.
I would be all in for Patrick Maroon.
That could work. Still hoping we get wise and see what Ferland brings and resign him.
1. My reservations on Greenville concern the quality of the organization – certainly last season was a dumpster fire in terms of results. I haven’t looked into it that much but I would want to be assured it is a first-class organization before sending our prospects there.
That said, other than our two goalie prospects the Canes made little use of the ECHL – I believe only 3 Canes-contracted players (Wesley, Pu, Nastasiuk) spent time in Florida for a total of about 18 games between them.
My preference would be Norfolk which only had a one-year deal with Arizona.
2. If Bales ends up at Buffalo, as rumors have it, it would make sense. He has worked with Botterill before. The Sabres have an excellent goalie in Hutton – so that situation is more stable (he has actually worked with 4 goalies in his 2 seasons). Plus I wouldn’t be surprised if he is getting a nice bump in pay.
3. As I indicated yesterday, I would love to know Vellucci’s professional aspirations as well as his level of satisfaction in the Hurricanes organization. He is a Karmanos man, of course, as well. But without knowing his aspirations and professional satisfaction I don’t think it is possible to speculate meaningfully on his future.
1. From a business stand point, not sure the ECHL pushes the needle for either profit or player development. ‘AA’ hockey is a nice place to send a couple of your players who can’t find a home anywhere else, but lets face it…if you draft someone they should be good enough to develop at the AHL level, or just better off continuing to develop in Canadian/Euro juniors or U.S. colleges. Sure, a team in Greenville exposes more regional fans if the mindset is to field a full roster, but I don’t see ‘AA’ hockey as important regarding player development.
2. I think it’s a combo that we will see greater goaltending changes and Bales decided to jump on board a connection while he can. I don’t blame him.
3. Tough to say without more intel, as TJ points out. Gut feeling tells me MV moves on from the organization. With his player development/coaching/front office skills perhaps he may even be an insider to help build/coach the expansion team.
People typically leave a job for 3 reasons, they don’t like the job, they don’t like the workplace or they can get more money somewhere else.
I don’t think the problem is the job (meaning the team), team did well, he had a say in how goalies were managed, he got a lot of credit for that.
So either he doesn’t like working with our coaches and management or, more likely, he can make more money somewhere else.
Last summer rumors were swirling that TD was really lowballing coaches when it came to salary. Hopefully that’s not the case.
There are still a number of NHL teams looking for coaching help, Ottawa, Oilers etc. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are willing to pay Filluji pretty handsome dollar to join their staff, maybe not as a headcoach but at least as an assistant coach.
Again, he did one heck of a job wit the checkers and I really hope this organization is going to do everything possible to keep him in Carolina.
1. Excited at the prospect of Gville being the new ECHL franchise. Mostly for personal reasons as that was where I first saw live hockey. RIP Greenville Grrrowl.
2. It would make sense that any team going after Mrazek would first sign the coach he’s succeeded under. Let’s hope Petr doesn’t think THAT highly of him. Bales also came in two years ago and was no help for Darling on either season. Not sure if that’s just how far gone Darls was or if it can serve as a reminder that it takes different processes for different players to succeed.
3. I haven’t seen any speculation outside of Canes fans that MV is looking for something more. Hoping this is just worrywart, offseason rumor mill stuff. He’s definitely got a higher profile after that season, but I’d imagine that being AGM for the team you coach would be enough control that you’d need a substantial offer to step down.
1) I agree with rtj, not anything really happens at the ECHL level for prospects. Always some exceptions but not usually NHL material. I am fine with Greenville for the location argument but I do not think it means much for the prospects, maybe some additional fans.
2) I have no idea. A total surprise. Maybe pay? It’s hard to see leaving a team that is growing to be with some buddies. I suppose wanting to be with your buddies could be enough. I believe he had stability here. Who would want him gone!
3) MV, I am hoping the assistant GM means something and he is satisfied. Do not want to see him go. I am hoping GM + head AHL coach pay is enough to fight off other offers. Certainly he has the cred to move if he wants to.
Sorry, I meant to say agree with live free.
I won’t take that change personal! LOL!
Someone commented (online, I think), that Bales left because he had an opportunity to be an assistant coach (apparently there is a difference, probably money, from Goalie coach)!
Bales move, like Steve Smith, was about money. Period.