“We will see what we’re made of,” Rod Brind’Amour refuses to let go of hope, even as the Hurricanes struggle to catch up with the defending champs. As the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals return to Sunrise, Florida, for Game 3, the veteran coach is desperate for a break. However, Carolina fans seem to think that the Canadian hockey icon is stressing himself when there’s nothing to fret about so much.

Thanks to a massive 5-0 victory on Friday, the Florida Panthers are looking comfortable in the driver’s seat in the series against Rod Brind’Amour’s boys. With a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven game series, the Cats couldn’t have asked for more as they now head back to the Amerant Bank Arena for two back-to-back games. Naturally, dark clouds hovering overhead cannot be ignored by the fans. But they are not ready to give up on their coach yet.

In the Subreddit r/NHL, one fan pondered the Carolina coach’s future with the question, “Is Rod Brind’Amour in danger?” Referring to how the Canes have lost 14 straight Eastern Conference Finals games since winning their last way back in 2006, the fan wrote, “14 straight ECF (Eastern Conference Final) losses is tough, especially heading to Florida. He almost guarantees a pretty good team, but he can’t get over the hump…Always near the top, never at the top.” Pretty grim, if you catch the drift.

However, others soon arrived with all guns blazing to fend off any sort of speculation about the coach’s chances of being shown the door just yet. While one fan came up with the logic that all NHL coaches are always in danger of losing their jobs, others were having none of it, especially in the case of Rod Brind’Amour.

In Game 2 between the Conference opponents at the Lenovo Center, the Panthers picked up a hefty 3-0 lead in the first period itself. Brind’Amour was not impressed. “I didn’t know what I was watching in the first period, and that didn’t go well,” he said after the dust had settled on Game 2. But while the coach was critical of his players, some thought that he was equally at fault. “There’s plenty that needs to improve on the ice for #RaiseUp, but off the ice is the lack of composure from Rod Brind’Amour. When the Canes are playing their game and winning, everyone says it’s a reflection of their coach. The same can be said right now, IMHO,” The Sick Podcast‘s Jimmy Murphy took a potshot at Rod. However, fans think that things are being blown out of proportion.

“He might be the safest coach in the league,” blatantly said one fan, as another went on to state, “There isn’t another coach that’ll get more out of that roster,” claiming that reaching this stage of the playoffs with this team should be a testament enough of Rod’s prowess as a prolific coach. While stars like Jordan Staal and Sebastian Aho are definitely good at their jobs, they are nowhere close to what the Panthers boast in their roster, some might argue. Naturally, Carolina fans believe that the head coach warrants some respect.

The fans’ faith doesn’t leave Rod Brind’Amour hanging

Being a coach in the League is never easy, we grant that. From Jim Montgomery being sacked by the Bruins to the New York Rangers parting ways with Peter Laviolette, there have been plenty of examples of NHL franchises replacing existing coaches this season alone. And obviously, a similar conversation may be well on the cards as Carolina Hurricanes look dangerously close to missing out on reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for the seventh straight year.

But fans believe Rod Brind’Amour should be cut some slack. While the team has never made the Cup Finals since Brind’Amour joined in 2018, it has reached the playoffs every single year under the guidance of the Canadian coach. “Brind’Amour is the only reason Carolina is as good as they are,” one fan reaffirmed that the team has risen through the ranks in their eyes, and Rod shouldn’t have to worry about being handed his departure papers.

In the second round of the postseason, the Canes decimated the Washington Capitals, despite Alex Ovechkin & Co. being the top seed in the division. While fans were irate with coach Spencer Carbery for the Caps’ performance, talks about him being fired still didn’t become a mainstay for the hockey community. A similar thing should also be on the table for Brind’Amour, suggests fans.

“Do you honestly think other coaches would do better with their roster?” one fan instead wanted the OP to tell how Rod is faring worse than his colleagues. “Not even close. Until Rod misses the playoffs his seat is ice cold,” another Carolina loyalist dismissed all jibes coming at the boss. Do you also think that Rod Brind’Amour’s job is as safe as it gets with his impressive track record? Feel free to weigh in on the matter with a comment!