RALEIGH — Steve Smith, who spent the past four seasons as an assistant under former Carolina Hurricanes coach Bill Peters, resigned from the position Monday, the team announced in a press release.
Smith was set to join Jeff Daniels as an assistant under new coach Rod Brind’Amour, and he even participated in the team’s prospect development camp two weeks ago. The release said the team would immediately begin its search for Smith’s replacement.
Smith, 55, was charged with coaching the team’s defense and penalty kill during his four seasons with the Hurricanes. A veteran of more than 800 NHL games, Smith won three Stanley Cups as a defenseman with the Edmonton Oilers. He later played for the Blackhawks and, after one year as an assistant coach in Calgary, returned to the ice with the Flames for three more seasons. Prior to coming to Carolina, Smith was an assistant for four seasons with the Oilers.
