The Carolina Hurricanes are losing an important part of their development system, announcing today that they have mutually agreed to part ways with Mike Vellucci. Vellucci served as an assistant general manager, director of hockey operations and head coach of the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, leading the team to a Calder Cup in 2019. In a statement, the coach notes that he has “been presented with an exciting opportunity” that he will be pursuing. A few hours later, it was announced that Vellucci will be the next head coach of the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, replacing the outgoing Clark Donatelli.
Vellucci has been with the Hurricanes organization for five years, coincidentally joining the franchise as his new boss in Pittsburgh, Jim Rutherford, was stepping down in Carolina. The two have worked together far longer than that however, going back to his days with the Plymouth Whalers. He took the head coaching position with the Checkers two years ago. In that time he posted a 97-43-12 record in the AHL and established the Checkers as one of the stingiest defensive teams in the league. A former NHL defenseman himself, Vellucci’s teams have long been known for their commitment in the defensive zone. That commitment has brought plenty of success, including past championships in the OHL and NAHL.
Prior to joining the Hurricanes Vellucci had coached the Whalers for more than a decade, helping develop dozens of NHL players including names like Tyler Seguin, James Neal, Rickard Rakell, Tom Wilson and J.T. Miller. It’s hard to imagine another AHL coach that would have been in more demand around the league.
Hockey is a funny sport. Only in hockey can you overachieve make it to the conference finals not get to the finals but the team feels they need to shake up the front office.
That’s not what happened though. He found a better opportunity that he wanted to pursue, the team thanked him for his time with the franchise, and let him leave.
Better opportunity? Coach of the winning AHL team for just another minor league team. Sounds like a parallel move at best.
…unless Rutherford told him that Sully is on thin ice…and he’d be next in line…
Very non-parallel move there.
I hope not, but…that’s the NHL.
Why would Rutherford undermine Sully like that? You don’t think these coaches talk?
Something else went down.
The same reason he “undermined” his first coaching hire, the useless Mike Johnston, by hiring Sullivan.
The previous WBS coach, Donatelli, supposedly left for personal reason. So be it.
That doesn’t explain why this guy would leave the AHL champs with a non-Cup champion NHL HC in front of him to join a non champion AHL team with a two time Cup champ HC.
He sees a better opportunity in the Pens organization than in the Canes. That says something.
Well, I guess you can look at all these recent events as all isolated incidents, but consider this list of departures from the Canes just this month:
1. Their long time ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades, decides to go with Nashville instead.
2. Mike Bales, the goalie coach, leaves for Buffalo.
3. Both Mzarek an McElhinney seem to be looking for better deals elsewhere.
4. Vellucci leaves for another AHL team.
One could be forgiven for thinking there are issues in Dundon world.
Very possible that Dundon offered him $9/hr to coach the Checkers. That’s true. Dundon is a clown. The AAF debacle has made that obvious.