Bill Peters should exercise out clause and leave Hurricanes
While he has control over his status, Bill Peters should exercise his out clause and leave the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Carolina Hurricanes have missed the playoffs in eight straight seasons now, including the last four under coach Bill Peters. That may put him on the hot seat, but it’s been reported he has an out clause in his contract that can be exercised within a certain time frame after the end of the season.
Now, according to Chip Alexander of The Raleigh News and Observer, Hurricanes’ interim general manager Don Waddell confirmed Peters has until Friday to exercise that exit clause in his contract. Waddell went further to say teams have called requesting permission to interview Peters, and he’s making a relatively paltry $1.6 million.
On the surface, Carolina has simply not been a good team under Peters. But advanced metrics look a lot better on the Hurricanes over the last four seasons, with shooting percentage and save percentage undoing that good work.
The Hurricanes have a new owner in place now. That puts an incumbent coach on unstable ground automatically. But an agent could also negotiate an opportunity to leave on his own accord when that situation has not yet been settled (see Doug Marrone and the Buffalo Bills after the 2014 season).
Waddell, somewhat ominously in a certain context, hinted owner Tom Dundon also “has options” regarding Peters’ status.
Waddell on Peters: "I don't think he's fighting to get out the door. But that's his right, that's in his contract. He's got to weigh out all his options." Waddell noted Canes owner Tom Dundon "has options too."
— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) April 16, 2018
Peters should not lack for opportunities elsewhere if he leaves Carolina, with the New York Rangers and Dallas Stars looking for a new coach right now and other openings sure to come. He’s also going to coach Team Canada at the World Championships in May, so in wider hockey circles Peters seems to be well-regarded.
Next: 5 candidates to be next Dallas Stars coach
Presumably after Friday’s out clause deadline, and well within reason from many perspectives, Peters could be fired as Hurricanes’ coach. The semantics of becoming available are not important, but Peters has full control over his destiny for a few more days. Add in removing a new owner who may have an itchy trigger finger from the equation, and Peters shouldn’t need much more time to leave the Hurricanes.