The search for the Ron Francis’s replacement as the next Carolina Hurricanes general manager is on and there are already a handful of intriguing candidates.
“We believe that there are five people that Carolina has contacted about beginning the search for the position,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said Saturday during the Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada.
Those five early candidates are Nashville Predators assistant GM Paul Fenton, Los Angeles Kings assistant GM Michael Futa, New Jersey Devils assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald, Tampa Bay Lightning assistant GM Julien BriseBois, and former Vancouver Canucks assistant GM Laurence Gilman.
Friedman added that Fenton, Futa and Fitzgerald have received permission from their respective teams to discuss the Hurricanes position, but that it is believed there is something in BriseBois’s contract that does not allow him to go right now. Meanwhile, Gilman, who was fired by the Canucks in 2015, does not need permission to interview for the job.
Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos said Hurricanes majority owner Thomas Dundon “wants a critical thinker and that’s the main reason why Ron Francis is out.”
The Hurricanes have failed to qualify for the post-season in eight consecutive years and currently sit six points out of a playoff spot with just 14 games remaining on their schedule.
Dundon announced earlier this week Francis will transition to new role with the team as president of hockey operations.
“[Dudon] wants dealmakers, he wants someone that can get the deal done quickly,” Kypreos said. “That probably puts Fenton, Futa, those type of guys that have already been involved in big trades at the front of the list.”
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