On the heels of the wholesale change in Washington on the weekend, the Carolina Hurricanes have scheduled a noon press conference Monday to announce that Jim Rutherford will be stepping down and that current VP of Hockey Operations Ron Francis will take over as general manager.

Rutherford has been with the club since 1994, has a minority ownership stake in the Hurricanes and a long time association with owner Peter Karmanos, which makes it likely that he will remain as Team President.

Carolina is a club that could be at the center of sweeping changes this summer and Francis could be the agent of that change.

Current coach Kirk Muller’s job may be in peril after not making the playoffs the last two seasons, the big trade for Jordan Staal with Pittsburgh did not have the desired effect of improving the team's depth up front and franchise fixtures Cam Ward and Eric Staal, who were centerpieces of the club’s championship in 2006, have grown stagnant in Raleigh and may be on the market at the upcoming NHL Draft.

TSN's Bob McKenzie is reporting that Flames President Brian Burke has completed his long search for a replacement for Jay Feaster and will hire Coyotes Asst GM Brad Treliving as Calgary's new GM.

More to come

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