The Carolina Hurricanes' season came to an end after their 5-3 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final. Overall, the Panthers simply had the Hurricanes' number in this series.
While speaking to reporters following the Hurricanes' Game 5 loss, head coach Rod Brind'Amour expressed frustration about the negativity that is being thrown the Hurricanes' way, even though they made it to the Eastern Conference Final.
"It's the craziest thing that we're this far, and all we're hearing is negativity from everybody," Brind'Amour said.
Following this, Brind'Amour was very transparent and shared that he expected the Hurricanes to miss the playoffs after their multiple off-season departures.
"When I walked into this summer, with the pieces that left this organization, I was like 'I don't think we're going to make the playoffs,' Brind'Amour said. I was that worried about it because it was such a mass exodus of good players to free agency, and then we were able to find good players to fill in, and then I was like 'I don't know if they're that good,' but they hung in there."
There is no question that the Hurricanes lost several notable players this past off-season. Jake Guentzel, Brett Pesce, Brady Skjei, Teuvo Teravainen, and Stefan Noesen all joined different teams in free agency. Thus, it is understandable that Brind'Amour was nervous about the Hurricanes taking a step back before the season started.
Brind'Amour then added that he is proud of the Hurricanes' post-season run, even with the way it ended.
"I got nothing but pride with this group," Brind'Amour said. "Yeah, we didn't love how this kind of went, this series, but again, that's the standard right there. You're not giving Florida enough credit."
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