Changes in Carolina were expected with Ron Francis taking over for the semi-retired Jim Rutherford and the first of those changes occurred this morning, as the new Hurricanes GM relieved head coach Kirk Muller and assistants John MacLean and Dave Lewis of their duties.
Muller was 80-80-27 in 2 1/2 seasons in Raleigh and could not get a talented group in Carolina to win consistently.
Francis faces a summer of organizational transition, which will now include the hiring of a new coach and possibly moving core players from the franchise's 2006 Stanley Cup Championship, Cam Ward and Eric Staal.
more to come