RALEIGH - With rumours already leaking to the press about a growing rift between Hurricane's head coach Peter Laviolette and general manager Norm Donovan, today it was announced that Laviolette's contract has been bought out and a new coach hired.
The shocking announcement caught everyone by surprise. In a hastily prepared press conference Donovan announced that "the team was looking to go in a different coaching direction" and had paid almost $1.5 million to buy out the remainder of Laviolette's 3 year deal. Equally shocking was the speed with which his replacement was announced - with Joel Queneville being named to the position a mere 15 minutes after the press conference ended.
Sources immediately began leaking the behind-the-scenes details of the sudden split, with reports often conflicting. It is largely agreed that the two did not get along well, and Laviolette specifically did not appreciate attempts by Donovan to influence his choices for assistant coaching positions. After several spats on the issue, the two allegedly got into a screaming match this morning whereupon some have indicated that Donovan made a desparaging remark about Laviolette's wife while others claim he shoved the affable coach. Regardless, witnesses are unanimous in their reporting that Laviolette broke a hockey stick over Donovan's desk, and the terrified GM fled to the executive washroom and locked himself inside.
Two hours later, Laviolette was officially fired.
With any luck, Queneville - himself an excellent head coach by any standard - will be better able to tolerate Donovan's notorious intrusions.