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.

Most Recent Comments

RE: Canes' owner rips former coach Laviolette

What a jerk. Say one thing and the recant by saying I thought the comments were off the record. For crying out loud you are at a public speaking engagement!

Can we fire the owner?

RE: Canes' owner rips former coach Laviolette

It is funny to see a bunch of people assume that since we get to her a small amount of an interview(and we do not know exactly what question was asked) that you people assume that PK just offered this info up voluntarily.

Thanks for pointing that out edame

RE: Canes' owner rips former coach Laviolette

edame- You may be correct on your points, but there is no question that the classy thing for ole' Pete to do would be to take the higher road. If a change was necessary, for whatever reason, it does not need to be hashed out in the media. Pete has been around long enough to know what his remarks would do. He should have learned that when he pulled the offer from Keith Primeau a few years back, then made it look like Keith was the greedy one. Pete, if you are going to make an offer, HONOR IT!
The best thing for the Canes is to get rid of Jim Rutherford- what a waste of a front office position. What makes Paul Maurice the answer to the problems? I don't see them making the playoffs anytime soon with the staff and front office they have in place. The only exception to that is Ron Francis. He is the only positive in a lackluster franchise.

RE: Canes' owner rips former coach Laviolette

Bottom line here is that the problem with the Canes begins in the front office. I know that Karmanos has a man crush on Rutherford and whatnot, but JR needs to go. He has made some good trades and some bad trades but his time has come. Make Ronnie the GM and allow him to put his staff together, bring in a new coach, not Daniels or Rowe and somehow get Karmanos to spend some more money on players (great that they signed Staal longterm) but the Canes need to be more active in the free agent market...maybe a certain number 17 from ATL???

Either way until JR is gone and a new front office is in place I am afraid that the Canes will continue to remain in the middle of the pack.

RE: Canes' owner rips former coach Laviolette

"However, no canes fan can deny that Mo has sparked something. Its overshadowed b/c we played boston 3 times and we're riding a 3 game skid, but our record is much better under Mo in this short span,"

Canes under Lavi: 12-11-2
Canes under Mo: 9-8-3

Lavi won 48% of his 25 games; 26 pts in 25 games
Mo has won 45% of his 20 games; 21 points in 20 games
Different coach - same team - same results

We can't just 'forget' about the losses to Boston. They count the same as the losses to Ottawa and Toronto. Considering the team was 9-4-3 just a week ago, I think it is a stretch to see "improvement" now that the team is 9-8-3 and was outscored 15-7 in the losses to Fla, Ottawa and Toronto (all teams below them in the standings.)

WRAL Sports Fan

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