Canes' Francis Interested in Assistant GM Position

RALEIGH, N.C. — Former Carolina Hurricanes star Ron Francis said he is interested in moving to the assistant general manager position now that Jason Karmanos has resigned from the job.

"Absolutely, I'd be interested," Francis told WRAL's Jeff Gravley on Friday. "But if they want to go elsewhere that makes more sense for the organization, that's OK, too."

Jim Rutherford, president and general manager of the Hurricanes, said Friday that Francis "will certainly be at the top of my list" as he looks to replace Karmanos.

Rutherford also said Karmanos' resignation will not affect the ownership of the team.

Francis is the team's director of player development, a position he took in November 2006.

"He has done a great job in what he has done in developing players in a short period of time," Rutherford told WRAL.

"And the thing you have to look for when a former player comes into the front office is how serious they are and how hard they want to work. Those questions were quickly answered last year when Ron took this new position and really did such a good job for us.

"This has always been the understanding with Ron – he’ll learn more in the organization and do more. He will be a guy who is on my very short list to consider."

Rutherford said he has had "brief" conversations with Francis and with Marshall Johnston, the Canes' director of pro scouting, about the job.

"They are the two people that worked the closest outside of the coaching staff with Jason and I," he said. "And I’m just bouncing ideas off them at this point."

Karmanos, the 33-year-old son of owner Peter Karmanos Jr., announced his resignation Thursday, citing personal reasons. The announcement came as a surprise, with the Canes scheduled to open Wednesday night at home against Montreal. Tickets for that contest are still available.

Rutherford said much of the front-office work was done because the season is ready to unfold. As assistant general manager, Karmanos assisted Rutherford in player evaluations, contract negotiations and player movements. His other responsibilities included overseeing the day-to-day operations of the club and the Hurricanes' minor-league affiliates in the AHL and ECHL.

"Jason had talked about possibly resigning at the end of last season, but he didn’t want to just up and leave at such an important time," Rutherford said. "But that’s the thing about him – he’s so respectful of the people around him and what’s going on around him."

Francis called Karmanos' resignation "a huge loss" for the Canes.

Rutherford said he is now weighing whether to promote from within or look outside the club for the next assistant GM.

"He’s really going to be missed," Rutherford said of Karmanos. "He’s a great person and he was great at his job. He and I worked really well together."

Rutherford said the move will not affect the longterm ownership of the team. Jason Karmanos, given his close ties to the operation, has been seen as a likely successor to his father as owner. But Rutherford said the change doesn't mean Peter Karmanos is looking to sell.