Nashville Predators coach Peter Laviolette propelled himself into rarefied air when the Preds won the Western Conference championship on Monday over the Anaheim Ducks. Laviolette has now taken three straight teams - the Carolina Hurricanes, the Philadelphia Flyers, and now the Predators - to the Stanley Cup Final, only the fourth coach to do so following Dick Irvin, Scotty Bowman and Mike Keenan.
With a pedigree like that, it’s understandable that looking back to Laviolette’s tenure with the Hurricanes is in style in Carolina these days. Over the years, what looked like the right move at the time may come to be seen as a mistake in retrospect; the mere mention of Justin Williams’ name in any Canes fans’ conversation is proof.