The Hurricanes announced today that former Checkers head coach Jeff Daniels has been added to the team's professional scouting staff.
Daniels coached the Checkers for each of the team's first five seasons in the AHL. He logged a 192-156-16-20 record in Charlotte and led the team to playoff appearances in 2011 and 2013. Prior to Charlotte, Daniels coached the Albany River Rats for two seasons, giving him seven total seasons as the head coach of Carolina's top affiliate. Before his time in the AHL, Daniels spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Hurricanes, helping them capture the 2006 Stanley Cup.
Prior to coaching, Daniels enjoyed a 15-year pro career that included over 400 NHL games with Pittsburgh, Florida, Hartford, Nashville and Carolina. As a winger, Daniels won a Stanley Cup in 1992 with the Penguins and helped lead the Hurricanes to the Finals in 2002.
After announcing that Daniels' contract as Checkers head coach would not be renewed this offseason, the Hurricanes hired Mark Morris to take over in Charlotte, making him the second head coach in the team's AHL history.
Along with Daniels, Carolina has added Ray Whitney, who retired from the NHL earlier this year, and Mark Craig, former GM of the OHL's Plymouth Whalers, to their pro scouting staff. Don Elland, former head coach of the Plymouth Whalers, has been added to the team's amateur scouting staff.
