- Rod Brind’Amour says nobody remembers who finishes second in the Stanley Cup Final
- The Hurricanes coach made the comment Monday on Cup Final media day, with Game 1 set for Tuesday in Raleigh
- Read below for the full quote, video from media day, and what it means for Carolina’s mindset
Rod Brind’Amour did not come to Raleigh to soak up the moment.
Carolina’s head coach was asked Monday about finally reaching the Stanley Cup Final after eight years behind the Hurricanes bench, and he answered with the bluntest possible take on what a runner-up trophy is worth.
“Everyone makes a lot about getting this far, but nobody’s gonna remember who comes (in) second,” Brind’Amour said, per Dan Rosen of NHL.com. “So, if you’re gonna lose, you might as well lose in the first round. Like, it doesn’t really make a difference to me. It’s all about winning. We haven’t done that yet.”
Here’s Brind’Amour at the podium with general manager Eric Tulsky on Monday:
The mindset tracks with how he’s built this group. Brind’Amour took over in 2018-19 and has never missed the playoffs, but the Canes lost three Eastern Conference Finals along the way, in 2019, 2023 and 2025. The roster turned over plenty across those runs. The standard never did.
He’s been here before as a player, too. Brind’Amour lost the 2002 Cup Final to Detroit in five games, then captained Carolina to the 2006 title over Edmonton in seven.
He retired in 2010, joined the Hurricanes staff a year later, and worked as an assistant for seven seasons before getting the top job. Eight years in, this is his first time back on the league’s last stage.
The NHL has spent the past few days hyping his return to the biggest stage:
Brind’Amour will get his first crack at coaching for a Cup when Carolina opens the series against Vegas on Tuesday at Lenovo Center, 8 p.m. ET. John Tortorella and the Golden Knights are the other side of the bracket. Two coaches who have already won one. Only one of them gets to win another.
