Yesterday’s Daily Cup of Joe made a case for and against Rod Brind’Amour as the Carolina Hurricanes next coach. Today’s Daily Cup of Joe stays inside the organization and has similar analysis for Charlotte Checkers head coach Mike Vellucci.
The time is not now
(Repeat from Brind’Amour article since it is relevant here too.) First, to be clear, I am not suggesting that the time is now to hire a coach. Best continues to be to hire a new general manager and have that new general manager play a leading role in hiring the next coach. Hiring a coach first would send a strong message as to where the new general manager sits with regard to authority and leadership and could further complicate the search process. If the current general manager by committee situation becomes longer-term, then obviously the team will need to hire a coach with the current brain trust making the decision.
Where I ultimately land
Despite acknowledging that there was a case to be made for Brind’Amour as head coach of the Hurricanes, I ultimately voted ‘no’ simply because I did not think the timing as right to roll the dice with a coach with no head coaching experience. Mike Vellucci is different from Brind’Amour in that he actually has many years (and success) of experience at a head coach though all at lower levels. He has added a strong AHL season to his resume but has nothing for NHL coaching experience either as a head coach or an assistant. Vellucci’s potential as an up-and-comer who has succeeded at lower levels is intriguing, and he is more of a locker room outsider despite being part of the team for awhile now, but at the end of the day, I still prefer a coach with more NHL or at least AHL head coaching experience. As such, I would pass on Vellucci too and look outside the organization for the next head coach.
Mike Vellucci’s resume
Rod Brind’Amour is obviously a known commodity in the Hurricanes organization. Since Mike Vellucci’s history is maybe not as well known by many, a good starting point is detailing his resume. Working within former Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos’ lower organizations, Mike Vellucci worked his way up from the lowest rungs by being successful. He started by coaching in the Compuware team in the North American Hockey League from 1994 to 1999 where his team won two US National Championships and four Robertson Cups. Next he coached the Plymouth Whalers in the OHL from 2001 to 2008. He was again successful with a J. Ross Robertson Cup and a Memorial Cup berth for the 2006-07 season. Vellucci also won the Coach of the Year award twice and the Executive of the Year award once. He left the Whalers after the 2013-14 season to become an assistant general manager with the Carolina Hurricanes. After three seasons as an assistant general manager, Vellucci returned to coaching for the 2017-18 season where he currently has his Checkers team up two games to zero in the first round of the AHL playoffs. Though Vellucci’s coaching experience is primarily at lower levels, he has been successful both in the regular season and postseason as a coach in two extended stints at lower levels, and he does now have a single successful AHL season to add to his coaching accomplishments.
Pros of Mike Vellucci as head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes
A winning track record
As I said in my Brind’Amour article, the single biggest thing the team needs right now is a ‘jolt’and change in mentality and attitude. Vellucci has won this year in Charlotte and also in previous years at lower levels. With nine straight years of playoff misses, and a disappointing 2017-18 season that seemingly revealed a team that just did not have what it took to win when it mattered, could Vellucci’s aura of winning be what it takes get him a big promotion to the NHL level? It seems at least possible.
A known quantity but still an outsider
As someone who has been with the team for four years now, he has the benefit of being known by both players and management. That brings some positives. But interestingly, Vellucci is also an outsider as far as the locker room goes. He was away from Raleigh for the 2017-18 season, and in his three prior years with the team, Vellucci was upstairs in the offices not coaching in the locker room. If one primary goal is to shake things up and change out key personnel, Vellucci is interestingly similar to hiring an outsider whereas Brind’Amour was very much in the middle of the losing in 2017-18 even if in an assistant coach role.
Well-equipped for influx of Checkers’ talent on the Hurricanes’ roster
If the 2018-19 Hurricanes roster adds a few more Checkers to the mix as expected, Vellucci is in good position to evaluate the AHL players and understand how best to leverage each’s strengths.
Cons of Mike Vellucci as head coach for the Carolina Hurricanes
Lack of NHL experience
Vellucci and Brind’Amour have different versions of the same risk. Brind’Amour has four years of NHL coaching experience, but he has never been a head coach at any level. Vellucci has a good volume of successful head coaching experience, but he has no experience whatsoever at the NHL level and only one season coaching in the professional ranks. As such, Vellucci is just a different kind of dice roll as compared to Brind’Amour.
Not truly an outside shake up
Though Vellucci has been one stepped removed from the locker room since joining the Hurricanes, he still is not an outsider in the pure sense. He is still from within the organization.
Summing it up
I think there are positives to both Rod Brind’Amour and Mike Vellucci, but at the end of the day, I do not think the time is right to roll the dice with an unproven, ‘could work’ head coach. As such, I would be looking outside the organization first and inward only if nothing else materializes.
What say you Canes fans?
1) What are your thoughts on Mike Vellucci as a potential head coach for the 2018-19 season?
2) How would you rate/rank Vellucci as compared to Brind’Amour? What do you see as the pros and cons of each?
3) For those ready to look externally, who do you like?
Go Canes!
1. Vellucci is a solid candidate, just not sure how strong. He has done well at the AHL level this year and juniors prior (but lets not forget Peters did the same AND had NHL assistant coaching experience). We also have to remember that several of our Checkers played for Ulf last year and were just as successful. Not to take away from Vellucci, just saying the Checkers did make the playoffs last year as well.
2. I think Vellucci has a 30% chance of the head coaching gig. Whereas I would place Rod at 60% he gets the job with a guy like Vellucci as his assistant (closer to the players, day to day stuff). Many claim Rod could have done this before, but lets not forget he was an extension of Peters messages (whose to say he wanted to go differently but was respectful of who he reported to?). Rod knows the NHL and his work ethic and tenacity is second to none. This is what the entire team needs, both youth and veterans. He could be the one to set that bar and hold them to it.
3. Outside candidates really depend on the new GM. Appears Steve Greeley AGM from Buffalo is in town today for an interview. I like this guy and his story…Boston area kid who pushed his way to get know a Bruins executive in high school by caddying his golf bags. Later in life and after working in finance he wrote a letter to this executive which translated into an opportunity to scout for the Kings. He played collegiately and spent time under player development for the Kings, Rangers and Sabres. Apparently he’s a stat guy, very communicative and potentially the up-and-comer Dundon sees as having untapped potential. We shall see.
1) Vellucci is my top choice. In the past two months he has really impressed me. The Checkers finished the season on a 6-game winning streak and went 14-3-1 in March and April. This was necessary because after losing their first game in March Charlotte was letting the final playoff spot slip away. Much of this success was while missing the team’s best players (Wallmark in early March, Zykov for three weeks, McKeown and Foegele for a couple games each). As head coach Vellucci was able to get improved performances from Kuokkanen, Roy, Saarela, and others during that period. As mentioned earlier this week, Vellucci’s team also had the most power play goals in the AHL and reasonable scoring from its defensemen. Both those will be key for the Canes returning to the playoffs. My final point on this first question would be to direct folks to the Checkers website http://gocheckers.com/articles/features/shaya-s-10-thoughts-april-24-2018 and read point one.
2) Most of this covered above. My concern with Brind’Amour is that we were all told he was “in charge” of the power play. Given its lack of success and in some games (thinking of San Jose game) its ability to help the opponents, I don’t see the argument that he would bring out the best in players in all other situations, which Vellucci’s success at least suggests that he does.
3) I really don’t know enough to say. In fact, my of thoughts above are from thinking about this since Peters left. I didn’t have a strong opinion about Vellucci or Brind’Amour as head coach until then. But over the past few days it seems apparent to me that Vellucci has more to offer. Though as several others have said, I will be a big fan of the new coach regardless because they will be trying to help the Canes win.
I’m in the Villucci camp.
He knows the team while stayig out of the core that is responsible for its poor performance.
He knows how to get the most out of the incoming players. Unless the Canes make a splash in the UFA or trade market this summer, which sounds unlikely, are the future
He’s done a good job down in clt, an this organization needs to reward good performances.
I’m increasingly negative on Rod for head coach. The one thig he was in charge of has been less than stellar, in fact less than adequate. Give him the job down in Charlotte to prove himself.
AS for other coaches, Lindy Ruff might be an interesting experiment. Maybe AV, he almost took the canucs to the cup, and did a decent job early on with the Rangers. I guess it’s like BP, he lost the group.
ctcaniac’s third paragraph covers it for me. I just don ‘t know enough to make a “for sure” recommendation for who should be coach. I’m in favor of bringing in an outsider who has NHL experience. My hedge on that is when I look at what Yzerman did at Tampa Bay. He had a lot of young talent coming up and he brought up their AHL coach (Cooper) who really had a handle on all the Tampa prospects from the outset. This would make me favor Velluchi if the pick is between him and Roddie.
They’ve written up Velluci quite a bit down in Charlotte – calling him the team MVP. Pretty glowing praise. If there was a choice between Rod and Mike I would hope it is a no brainer… One of them has TONS of coaching experience and arguably has paid ALL his dues and deserves a chance to be a head coach. The other one playing resume aside has failed to produce ANYTHING impressive leading the teams powerplay the past couple seasons.
With these in mind the one thing both these guys strike me as being similar with is being ANGRY dudes (in a good way). Kirk Muller was vanilla, and Bill while holding people accountable seemed sometimes to go for the passive-aggressive route. I believe the two mentioned candidates would be a welcome change in JOLTING a soft, nice young team into being a bit tougher and meaner. With that being said – those types of coaches tend to have a short shelf life and are notorious for ‘losing’ their team.
I believe ‘elite coaches’ come in both flavours. Look at Torterella and Daryl Sutter – and while Torteralla has certainly calmed over the years these guys dont strike me as afraid to blast their team when needed. Then the last poster mentioned Jon Cooper one of my personal favourites – clearly a players coach and does an excellent job ‘developing’ individuals.
From my perspective I’d like to see a proven winner be hired like Alain Vignault, just like when the Canes hired Bill Peters I was somehow praying for a proven winner in Barry Trotz. But at the same time I trust the people inside the industry to know the candidates without experience that would serve well. Either way – I just think that the next head coaching job even MORE than the next GM job is ESSENTIAL to get absolutely right and find someone who will stay with this team for multiple years.
p.s. I think a knock on Velluci is that his personality and demanding style has always been a better fit for amateur hockey – and it is showing well with a young AHL team. Yet, with the Canes being a young NHL team maybe that is exactly the kind of voice the Hurricanes need.
And can someone explain what Rod Brind’Amour has done other than be a good player with Carolina to deserve a shot at coaching this team? The strengths of this team the past few years were Neutral Zone play (Bill Peters responsibility), and defensive transition & penalty killing (combination of Smith and Peters). The powerplay has been a disaster every season.
This is where ones definition of head coach is maybe different than their true role. Assistant’s for the most part run the offense/defense/special teams under a system the head coach ultimately chooses. The assistant’s while running the show are extensions of the head coach’s philosophy and orders…so whose to say our power play doesn’t need changing or that Rod didn’t request such with Peters? Whose to say Peters allowed for changes? Rod is his own man and sometimes that won’t come out until they personally get to take control.
Rod’s style of play in his career was not technically a power play specialist, so the fact he was running the power play was more to give him a bigger coaching role on the team (right or wrong, but not his fault). But that doesn’t mean Rod doesn’t know NHL systems. He played the NHL game the right way for 20 years, on both sides of the puck, under different eras, withstanding numerous playoff runs on multiple teams, while captaining a team to the ultimate prize. His off-ice fitness level is off the charts and perhaps in better shape than some playing now. Nobody can look him in the eye and give excuses for the two areas we need change a) lack of effort and b) grit and determination (including not playing the system the right way when asked). With the captaincy comes years of experience connecting with both young players and old, the NHL media and community, and he possesses a certain gravitas that Peters and others before did not.
Sure, the power play failed us this year and Rod was at the helm for that, and I also understand the argument good players don’t always make good coaches (then again how many coaches are full of their own enigma). Rod was never a ME guy like a Gretzky.
The reason I’m in favor of Rod is because I see the head coach role as different. Provide Rod quality assistant’s to coach the offense and defense to his liking, then Rod can do what he does best…an overall leader of the people.
That’s why I’d suggest giving the head coaching job down in Clt to Brindy, at least for a year. Let him prove himself as a head coach (due to his background, which is as impressive as any player’s in the league he would not have to serve 10 years to prove himself, but I think some head coaching experience is necessary).
Live free is totally right, we have no idea how much he was able to influence BP’s systems or personnel decisions, but he could have had a lot of say in it, or none at all. But the fact remains that the canes powerplay was overall unacceptably bad, with pretty much any configuration.
If I were the GM, I’d hire AV or Lindy Ruff, promote Villucci to assistant coach (because his players will be flooding the city of oaks) and appoint Rod the head coach down in Charlotte.
Obviously I am not the GM, nor a candidate for a GM, only an armchair GM, and I am sure, for a good reason.
I see two ways of viewing things: 1) the movie view of the world and 2) the pick-up game view of the world.
In 1) guys who are intense and willing to overcome huge obstacles (this is usually when the theme music plays) are winners.
In 2)* guys make little plays like moving when they notice a defender is about to double-team you thus creating an easy pass. These are the winners who keep playing. These guys are often quiet, smart guys–they understand the game and realize that everyone needs to play better and that they can help.
I think Vellucci is type 2. Listen to his comments from the Saturday game, he acknowledges that Charlotte excels when allowed to “skate.” Though I am interested to hear from fifty since he indicated that Vellucci has a reputation for being demanding. I have sat directly behind the bench for three games and from that vantage point mostly what Vellucci does is have one-on-one discussions with players where he points out positioning.
Hockey keeps evolving and type 2 coaches would appear to more adaptable.
*My experience is in Y basketball where my only asset as a short, modestly quick guy was the ability to make passes the defense wasn’t expecting. So of course I only did well with players who were quiet and good at anticipating. I admit my bias.
I’ve heard the Vellucci in his time in juniors was NOT opposed to bag skating his team – and I think even in Charlotte this year (a professional team with some older guys) he has at times subjugated them to harsh practices in response to lacksidasical efforts.
With that being said I am a fan of his style – the way he communicates with the media and his team. Clearly his PLAYERs have a respect for him – and when you can be HARD on your players AND have their respect you are doing something right. The final poster on the board made a great point – why would we go with someone “we won’t know until we try” versus a guy who has tons of head coaching experience.
I’m not particularly advocating for the Canes to hire EITHER one of them yet if it was to be out of these two I again put my support into Mike Vellucci over Rod. With that being said I expect MANY of the Charlotte players to return to Charlotte for a 2nd professional season and I wouldn’t mind seeing Mike Vellucci coaching there.
Lets not forget, we have seen 4 different AHL head coaches in the last 4 years if i’m not mistaken. It wouldn’t be a bad to have some stability in that position for at least another year.
1. There are all sorts of ways to assess the record of a coach: how many years coaching and at what levels and what type of success. Vellucci has 15 years of coaching behind him in the juniors and AHL. He has taken 15 teams to the post-season. Winning culture starts at the top?
More than that though he seems to have the innate ability to coach – to support the players and motivate them, as well as to get on them and push them. And you hear that with the players who say how much they enjoy playing for Vellucci even when he is on their case.
Accountability? – he benched the golden boy Goat when Julien wasn’t performing. He is honest about each of the players in the media without throwing them under the bus.
He also talks hockey intelligently to the media – he treats with respect.
There is just too much to like about him and I think his time has come and he is the underappreciated and under-valued asset TD has said he wants.
I like the Cooper analogy.
2. There is no comparison between these two.
Vellucci: “I want to coach” and has the successful HC career.
RBA: “You don’t know until you try.”
3. I am not a fan of most of the available external coaches. Coaches like AV are too focussed on vet players to the detriment of younger players – exactly the wrong fit for our young team. Bylsma interests me only because he has had success stepping in and turning a program around. Ruff or Sutter? – again poor fits for a predominantly young team, and they are too traditional for TD as an owner.