Hurricanes part with ex-GM Francis

The Carolina Hurricanes have terminated the contract of demoted general manager Ron Francis, a Hall of Fame player.

The Hurricanes announced the move Monday, nearly two months after Francis was reassigned to another front-office position while the team began a search for a GM who will report directly to new owner Tom Dundon.

Francis, 55, was a four-time All-Star who won the Stanley Cup twice with Pittsburgh in the 1990s.

He became 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.

Carolina’s nine-year playoff drought is one of the longest in NHL history.

Lamoriello won’t be back: Toronto general manager Lou Lamoriello will not return to the role next season.

Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan said he was sticking to a plan that called for Lamoriello, 75, to serve as GM for three years and then transition to senior adviser for four years.

The Maple Leafs set franchise records for points (105) and wins (49) in the regular season but were eliminated in seven games by the Bruins in the first round of the playoffs last week.

Lamoriello won the Stanley Cup three times as GM of the Devils.

Lamoriello spent 27 seasons as New Jersey’s GM before leaving in 2015 and joining the Maple Leafs in their rebuilding effort.

No hearing for Wilson: A person with direct knowledge of the decision says there will not be a disciplinary hearing for Washington winger Tom Wilson for his hit to the head of Pittsburgh defenseman Brian Dumoulin.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the NHL does not announce when there is no hearing for a player.