The Carolina Hurricanes now former President and General Manager Don Waddell has decided to resign his posts. The decision comes just days after the Carolina Hurricanes were eliminated in the second round of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs at the hands of the New York Rangers four games to two. With all the success the team has had, the deep lineup they possess, as well as the Head Coach Rod Brind’Amour‘s intense style of play the team implements, they never really seemed like they could get over the hump.
Don Waddell Resigns as Hurricanes President and General Manager
Don Waddell has resigned from his position as President and General Manager of the #Canes. Eric Tulsky has been named interim General Manager. https://t.co/atfIqoGCH2
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 24, 2024
What Does this Change Mean for the Canes
Even making huge additions just this past trade deadline to further boost his club’s stock such as Jake Guentzel or Evgeny Kuznetsov, the Canes couldn’t get any further in the playoffs then they did. Waddell’s tenure overlaps with Brind’Amour’s exactly, as both were brought on to the club on May 8th, 2018. Since 2018-19 coach Rod Brind’Amour has been at the helm. Over that time, the club has made the playoffs every year, twice reaching the Eastern Conference finals. From the regular season, the team compiled a .664 win % during the time Waddell and Brind’Amour were leading the charge.
Conversely, the lack of Stanley Cup success, even to make the finals, is ultimately the downside of Waddell’s tenure. Previous to Brind’Amour getting in, the Hurricanes had missed the playoffs nine years in a row. Therefore, in the big picture, no one could possibly consider Waddell’s Carolina tenure a disappointment, much less a failure. The Canes did often find themselves with bad luck or injury problems. This year as an example, Frederik Andersen missing time with a blood clot issue. Furthermore, this move was anticipated as Waddell had been speaking to other teams already, such as the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Taking over in the interim for Waddell, will be Eric Tulsky. At this point, he was named as the interim General Manager of the club. Tulsky was working under Waddell as the Assistant General Manager.
Main photo credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
