Canes' owner rips former coach Laviolette

Hurricanes

Canes' owner rips former coach Laviolette

By Ken Medlin

Jan 15, 2009

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Raleigh, N.C. — Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos was highly critical of former coach Peter Laviolette at a Wednesday meeting of the Greater Raleigh Sports Council.

“I didn’t like our coach,” he said. “His public persona and his private persona were two different things.”

Karmanos, in an interview with reporters after the meeting, said that the rest of the NHL caught up with Laviolette’s wide-open style after the Canes’ run to the Stanley Cup in 2006.

“Pretty soon, the other coaches got used to the new rules,” Karmanos said, referring to the rule changes that made the game faster after the NHL lockout. “They figured out ways to defense us and we didn’t change much.”

Karmanos also said Laviolette was too quick to give up on players. For example, he said Laviolette was not high on Eric Belanger, whom the Canes acquired along with Tim Gleason for Jack Johnson and Oleg Tverdovsky in October of 2006.

Belanger is now a key performer for the Minnesota Wild. He has 20 points in 39 games for the Wild this season.

“That happened with quite a few players,” Karmanos said.

While saying he liked Laviolette personally, Karmanos said he felt a change in coaches was needed, especially since he felt the Canes could reach the playoffs.

“I just felt we needed a change and we needed to change this year,” he said. “I think this year’s team’s a good team. We’re talented enough to make the playoffs and we could go pretty deep. …

“I think we have a playoff team. That’s one reason why Peter is gone.”

WRAL was trying to reach Laviolette for a response.

Karmanos also said he hoped to host the 2012 NHL All-Star Game in Raleigh. He said he saw NHL commissioner Gary Bettman Monday and Tuesday.

"I think he said we're still holding for 2012," Karmanos said.

The 2012 All-Star Game has not been assigned yet. An NHL spokesperson said the bid process for 2012 is closed, but that the site probably won't be announced until about a year out.