RALEIGH — Since being named a Carolina Hurricanes assistant coach in June, Rod Brind'Amour has referred to his coaching role and duties as a "work in progress."

But with the start of the regular season a few days away, Brind'Amour's coaching responsibilities have been determined. Canes head coach Paul Maurice said Tuesday that with the exception of the first three games - the first at home, then two on the road - Brind'Amour would not work behind the bench during games and would not travel with the team this season.

Brind'Amour will be in the Canes' coaches box high atop the RBC Center during home games, observing and making notes.

"It will be the bird's-eye view," Brind'Amour said Tuesday.

Brind'Amour also will continue to work with the forwards in the Canes' minor-league system, and will honor a commitment he made to coach his son's Junior Hurricanes youth hockey team, Maurice said.

Working with Maurice behind the bench this season will be new assistant coach Dave Lewis and assistant coach and goaltending coach Tom Barrasso. Lewis, who will handle the defensemen, will miss the first three games to attend his daughter's wedding, Maurice said.

The Canes open the season Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning at the RBC Center, then leave for road games Saturday against the Washington Capitals and Monday against the New Jersey Devils.

Brind'Amour is a former Canes captain who starred in Carolina's run to the Stanley Cup in 2006. He retired in the summer of 2010 and served as the organization's director of forwards development last season.

Brind'Amour has been behind the bench with Maurice, Lewis and Barrasso during preseason exhibition games. Maurice said at the start of training camp that Brind'Amour would work some preseason games before a decision was made about the regular season.

"It's been interesting and quite enjoyable," Brind'Amour said of the move into coaching. "It's definitely eye-opening to see this side of the fence, so to speak - all the preparation that goes into a practice or game, the method behind it. There's nothing coach (Maurice) has not thought about. No stone is left unturned.

"It has been a different experience behind the bench. It has taken a few games to get used to that. It's so much easier to watch from up top, where you can see everything develop."

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