Former Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, whose team eliminated Carolina in the previous two playoffs, congratulated Brind'Amour.
"Rod has excelled at developing an identity game, and having the Hurricanes be very consistent over the years playing that exact game," Maurice said.
"Good for him."
Peter Laviolette, who coached Brind'Amour during the 2006 championship run, expressed no surprise.
"I think Roddy has done an amazing job as coach of putting a winning culture forward and establishing such a high standard of play over the last 6-8 years with Carolina," Laviolette said.
"While there has been some level of success, it hadn't reached ultimate success … until now! Championships are hard to win.
Based on such a incredibly steady body of work year after year, the Carolina Hurricanes, and Rod, are so deserving to be 2026 Stanley Cup champions."
Former general manager Don Waddell, who appointed Brind'Amour as head coach in May 2018, recalled his certainty about the promotion.
"Rod is always totally prepared," Waddell said.
"Guys love to play for him because he cares and doesn't ask to do anything that he didn't do as a player.
He respects his players and the feeling is mutual."
Defenseman Jaccob Slavin credited Brind'Amour's authenticity. "One of the words that I love to describe Rod is respect," Slavin said.
"He respects us, he respects the game. He respects what it takes to be an NHL player.
He had an unbelievable career, so for guys coming into our team, they get a guy who's real, who is real with them, who will treat them well.
But he's also going to let them know what's demanded and expected of them.
I think what keeps him successful is one, his work ethic, but two, just how real he is."
Former Hurricanes player Eric Staal, who won the 2006 title alongside Brind'Amour, joined the celebrations. "He's a genuine, honest, hard-working, good guy," Staal said.
"If you're a good person, and you're honest, I'm sure there are a lot of guys that aren't gonna like what he's gonna say, but he's gonna be upfront and honest, and he's gonna push these guys to a level that he obviously has.
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I am not surprised at all."
