Dundon: Brind'Amour as coach will help Hurricanes change culture

In looking to shake things up, the Carolina Hurricanes turned to a familiar face.

Rod Brind'Amour was formally announced as the team's new head coach at a press conference Wednesday, with new club owner Tom Dundon and recently appointed general manager Don Waddell also on hand.

Brind'Amour had served as an assistant coach with the Hurricanes since 2011 under former bench bosses Kirk Muller and the recently departed Bill Peters, who exercised an exit clause in his contract that allowed him to accept another coaching job.

While Brind'Amour has been a longtime member of the organization - he also played for the Hurricanes for 10 seasons, captaining the franchise to its lone Stanley Cup win in 2006, before joining the coaching ranks - he quickly made a positive impression on Dundon, who assumed ownership of the Hurricanes in January.

Dundon went as far as to call Brind'Amour the franchise's best asset, and expressed confidence that the former player can help the owner implement his vision.

"The culture is going to change because we are going to change it," Dundon said. "... I know I can do it and I know (Rod) can do it because he's done it."

On Wednesday, the Hurricanes also formally introduced Waddell as general manager. He replaces the outgoing Ron Francis. Waddell served as GM of the Atlanta Thrashers from 1998 to 2010.