Laviolette gets another shot with Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes know their coach will be back next season.
General manager Jim Rutherford said yesterday the team will retain coach Peter Laviolette, who in 2006 led the Hurricanes to their only Stanley Cup.
Rutherford, however, was unaware of any final decisions from defensemen Bret Hedican and Glen Wesley about their plans for 2008-09.
Speculation swirled for the past month about Laviolette's future after Carolina missed the playoffs in both seasons after its championship run.
"This has gotten a little blown out of proportion," Rutherford said.
Laviolette met this week in Raleigh with owner Peter Karmanos Jr. as part of the team's standard postseason review, which came roughly five weeks after the GM expressed dissatisfaction with a dismal early-season stretch that ultimately cost the Hurricanes a spot in the playoffs. Carolina - which led the Southeast Division for much of the season - also faltered late and finished 2 points behind division winner Washington.
The 37-year-old Hedican has spent much of the past month with his wife, figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, while she competes on "Dancing With the Stars." Wesley turns 40 Oct. 2 and has spent 13 of his 20 NHL seasons with the Hurricanes franchise.
"I expect when Bret gets back into town after he's finished 'Dancing with the Stars,' we'll get a meeting with him," Rutherford said. "Glen's been with us a long time. He's got as long as he wants to make his decision."
Canada-Russia final
Rick Nash scored the go-ahead goal to put Canada in the title game of the world hockey championships with a 5-4 win over Sweden in Quebec City. Canada will face Russia, which advanced to the final with a 4-0 shutout of Finland. It's the first time the two hockey powers have met for the world title. Nash's goal broke a 3-3 tie in the second period, and Mike Green added a goal on the power play with seven seconds left in the period . . . Jacques Martin reached an agreement to remain with the Florida Panthers as general manager through the 2011-12 season.
