Francis now really out with Carolina Hurricanes
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolina Hurricanes terminated the contract of demoted general manager Ron Francis on Monday.
The ’Canes used just three sentences to make the announcement nearly two months after Francis was reassigned to president of hockey operations while the team began a search for a new GM that will report directly to new owner Tom Dundon.
Francis, 55, is a four-time All-Star who won the Stanley Cup twice with Pittsburgh in the 1990s and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. He took over as Carolina’s general manager in 2014 after being groomed for the position by former GM Jim Rutherford — who now is trying to win the Cup for a third straight year with the Penguins.
Francis stockpiled draft picks during the 3 1/2 seasons he spent rebuilding the Hurricanes, but he was criticized for not making enough moves to help the club.
One of his biggest off-season acquisitions was a bust, with goalie Scott Darling coming in from Chicago and finishing with an NHL-worst save percentage of .888 in the first year of his four-year, $16.6 million contract.
The Hurricanes have several key vacancies in their management roster. They’re also searching for a coach after Bill Peters opted out of the final year of his contract earlier this month and subsequently was hired by the Calgary Flames.
Carolina holds the No. 2 overall pick in the June draft.
Carolina also said Joe Nieuwendyk resigned as scout and adviser. Nieuwendyk, a Hall of Fame centre who played for two decades, also spent four years as the Dallas Stars’ GM.