If Laviolette's Rangers win tonight and sweep the beleaguered Hurricanes, it could have a negative effect on a fellow he knows only too well.
I know that Peter Laviolette would never plan it this way.
But if his Rangers win tonight and sweep the beleaguered Hurricanes, it could have a negative effect on a fellow he knows only too well.
That fellow is Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour, coveted by a few coach-less teams around the National Hockey League.
Just for the sake of argument, let's postulate -- it's allowed -- that the Rangers win their eighth straight game tonight in beautiful Downtown Raleigh.
That would mean that Canes owner Tom Dundon, who bought the team in 2018, will find an empty space where he hoped to have a Stanley Cup on display.
For sure, general manager Don Waddell has fulfilled his end of the bargain. Year after year, the high command has delivered a talent-filled team. (And that helps explain why The Hockey News Yearbook picked the Canes to win the Cup the past two years.)
Yet, Brind'Amour has failed for the sixth straight year.
That is, so far.
For all we know, the Canes will get off the "schnei" tonight and then win three more games and -- well it could happen, couldn't it?
Just in case it doesn't happen, don't fret for Rod.
Should Dundon say, "Enough, already," and fire his head coach, guess what?
After approximately two-and-a-half seconds, Brind'Amour's phone will have at least two NHL coaching offers and one will be from Canada's Queen City.
You guessed it: Toronto!