The Carolina Hurricanes continue to see turnover in the front office and behind the bench, as today the team announced that Steve Smith has resigned as assistant coach. Smith had been with the team for four seasons as their defense and penalty kill coach. Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News & Observer points out that new head coach Rod Brind’Amour had seemed “excited” to keep Smith on the bench when he took over earlier this offseason, but something must have changed for either the Hurricanes or Smith.
Smith, 55, started his coaching career way back in 1997 when he joined the Calgary Flames staff for a year before returning to the ice as a player. That connection to the Flames and their new head coach Bill Peters—under whom Smith served in Carolina—would be a logical landing spot for him next season if they hadn’t already hired Geoff Ward and Ryan Huska this summer. It’s not clear if Smith has another destination in mind.
For the Hurricanes, they’ll begin a search for a replacement right away as they try to find a new identity next season. After sending Elias Lindholm and Noah Hanifin to the Flames, they’ll be building around a new core consisting of Sebastian Aho and second-overall pick Andrei Svechnikov. Dougie Hamilton, who was the returning prize in the big trade, won’t get the chance to work with Smith next season.
Please, God don’t hire Tim Gleason.
Nooooo. He was so good for our PK.
Should’ve all been fired after the Boston game.