Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis signs extension


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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes have signed general manager Ron Francis to a contract extension through the 2018-19 season, the team announced Tuesday.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

"I appreciate the fact that (owner Peter Karmanos Jr.) is willing to give me the extension," Francis said. "We're going in the right direction, so it's exciting to help continue that."

Francis, 53, is a Hall of Fame player beginning his 11th season in a management role with the Hurricanes and his third since taking over for Jim Rutherford as general manager. He's led the youth movement that helped the Hurricanes improve 15 points in the standings last season, trading captain and franchise face Eric Staal while reshaping the team around a core of younger players.

"Ron has rebuilt our organization the right way, stocking our team and system with young players who will help this franchise compete for the Stanley Cup year in and year out," owner Peter Karmanos Jr. said. "I'm thrilled that he will continue to see the job through. The future is very bright for the Hurricanes in Carolina."

With the move, the Hurricanes have locked up two key management figures this summer. In July, they signed coach Bill Peters to an extension, also through 2018-19.

Francis said after he finished Peters' extension, Karmanos approached him and said "now I want to take care of you.

"He sat down and said, 'This is what I'd like to do,'" Francis said. "And I said, 'OK, Pete, that's fair.' It was just a matter of getting things signed."

Francis also said forward Raffi Torres will try out for the team when camp begins in September.

Torres hasn't played a regular-season game in the NHL since 2013-14, and last October was suspended for 41 games — the longest suspension in NHL history for a hit on another player — and fined $440,000 for his illegal check on Anaheim's Jakob Silfverberg during a preseason game.

"You all know the way I played the game — I don't condone those kinds of hits, and I think they were dealt with the right way," Francis said. "He's served his time, he's forfeited his money and hopefully he's in a different place. ... It's not a contract. It's a tryout. He has to earn a contract. He has to earn a spot in our lineup."

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