Paul Maurice gets an extension

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Source: Rotoworld per TSN.ca

The Hurricanes have signed head coach Paul Maurice to a three-year contract extension.

"When Paul came in, he did a really good job of bringing the coaching staff together," general manager Jim Rutherford said. "They had good chemistry, and the delegation of certain areas where everybody felt they had an important role in the staff worked well." Ron Francis will serve as the team's associate head coach and director of player personnel. Tom Barrasso will work as the Carolina's assistant coach and will continue to help out the goaltenders. Tom Rowe and Kevin McCarthy were retained as the club's other assistant coaches.

[carpanfan96]

Rutherford also said the team benefited from having Francis available to work with players on a daily basis, specifically mentioning star forward Eric Staal. But he didn't want to pull Francis away from his work developing young players in the organization, adding that Francis occasionally won't be on the bench because of other job responsibilities.


Looks like his player development job is going to take some bench time away, which is a pretty good Idea. I think it will help out some of the younger Center's we have get up to the Pro team quicker and with a more polished skill set.

[Murph]

I agree that Ron was not ready for the big chair and Maurice has certainly earned an extension. But I would have gone for two rather than three. Ron should be ready in a couple of years.

[CajunUp]

This was a no brainer. I just hope to hear the LaRose, Ruutu and Jokinen are locked up soon. And Id love to see a big extenstion for Cam Ward.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Originally Posted by CajunUp

This was a no brainer. I just hope to hear the LaRose, Ruutu and Jokinen are locked up soon. And Id love to see a big extenstion for Cam Ward.

Jokinen and Ruutu aren't really situations they have to handle right away since they are restricted free agents (Restricted free agents cannot leave to play for other teams unless they are traded), but LaRose needs to be the first player signed to an extension since he is an unrestriced free agent. Then they need to decide if they want to sign Ryan Bayda and Eric Cole to contract extensions. After those situations are taken care of they will sign Ruutu and Jokinen to their contract extensions. After that is done they will decide if Seidenberg and Babchuk (which are both restricted free agents) are worth the money. If they are, then they will give them a contract extension, if they are not then they will be released. Personally I would like to see Seidenberg back because he has experience and actually plays on the national team for Germany, which means he must be pretty darn good. Babchuk I am not sure about it depends if he actually remembers how to play defense during the off-season. After all the contract situations are taken care of they will build through the draft, and either sign their draft picks or let them walk. Some will be assigned to the Hurricanes roster, and some will be assigned to the AHL affiliate (Albany River Rats). When all the draftees and their situations are taken care of, the Hurricanes organization can just pick up some of the left over unrestricted free agents out their, with the money they have left (which shouldn't be much) and sign those who they believe can make a contribution to the team. Then it will almost be time to start the next hocket season.

That is pretty much how the off-season should go.

[solorca]

I was more surprised than most by this, because I thought they would give over the team to Francis. With that said, I think that Maurice earned at least another year after the way he turned this team around, when very few thought he would do anything other than keep the seat warm for Francis.