It’s been awhile since we’ve seen front office drama: The Carolina Hurricanes have named Ron Francis their President of Hockey Operations, relieving him of his GM duties with the club. There are reports that Francis didn’t necessarily have the best working relationship with Hurricanes owner, Tom Dundon, and that Dundon will be looking to shake up the nature of the Hurricanes hierarchy.
John Shannon of Sportsnet suggested that Dundon wants to be more hands on, making the GM position more of a figurehead, similar to how the NBA Dallas Mavericks are run.
Could that work in hockey? We’ll see. Read more about it below.
First, here’s Sharks news and notes:
- Critical Date for the San Jose Sharks
A year ago, the San Jose Sharks hit a sharp downturn in the final month of the season. This is a different season with important differences in the team, but they must avoid the same fate. - NHL: Sharks’ Tomas Hertl looking to regain scoring touch
Winger has just one goal in his last 15 games, and one assist in six games since he returned from an upper body injury - O’Regan happy to join BU teammates, knows he’ll be a focus in wake of Kane trade – The Buffalo News
When the trade with the San Jose Sharks went down an hour before the NHL’s Feb. 26 trade deadline, Danny O’Regan said the first people he heard from were some family members. The next two to text: Former Boston University linemates, and now current Buffalo Sabres teammates, Jack Eichel and Evan Rodrigues. - Jonathan Cheechoo retirement: NHL’s biggest one-hit wonders since 2000
In honor of the retirement of the the former Sharks forward, we look at other NHL players who proved to be flashes in the pan. - Curtains close on the curious career of Jonathan Cheechoo
Jonathan Cheechoo is a former Rocket Richard Trophy winner who netted 56 goals in one of the most productive single seasons of the last 20 years. He was out of the NHL three years later./
Around the league:
- Ron Francis out as Carolina Hurricanes general manager – Canes Country
The Hall of Famer will remain as president of hockey operations, but a new GM will be hired and will report directly to owner Tom Dundon. - Raw Charge’s Russian translator: The Olympics OAR win perpetuates a structure that is ruining the KHL – Raw Charge
This gold basically validates the existing state of affairs in the Kontinental Hockey League and the monstrosity that is the Russian hockey system, sending a simple message: hey, we can win like this, so we’re fine! But we’re not fine. - NHL Players’ Poll Takeaways: Shea Weber is still a man to be feared – Sportsnet.ca
With the results now available to the public, here are some of the things I found most noteworthy about the poll. - NHL – 10 biggest surprises of NHLPA’s player poll – Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin absent, high marks for Jonathan Toews, Carey Price
More than 500 NHL players participated in a poll orchestrated by the NHLPA, naming the league’s best players, coaches, arenas, ice surfaces and much more. Here are the biggest surprises we found after going through all of the results. - Poll: NHL players weigh in on best players, worst places to play, greatest fans – CBSSports.com
Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Chicago’s fans are big winners in the annual NHLPA poll - NHL – Insiders predict Playoff dark horses, Penguins vs. Flyers, Carter Hutton’s 2018-19 team
Our writers tackle some pressing questions for the stretch run. Could the Kings or Stars make a Predators-esque wild-card run to the Cup final? Will the Penguins or Flyers finish higher in the standings? And where will Carter Hutton play next season? - NHL – The NHL’s worst contract quagmires
Brent Seabrook’s contract, which will cost Chicago $6.875 million against the salary cap until 2024, puts the Blackhawks in a painful position. Bobby Ryan’s deal with Ottawa and Milan Lucic’s agreement with Edmonton have handcuffed their respective teams. - 5 things we learned in the NHL: Laine living up to scoring hype – Sportsnet.ca
As Winnipeg Jets sophomore Patrik Laine was scouted as a teenager one thing was for certain, the kid has some scoring potential. - NHL to discuss goalie interference rule at GM meetings later this month – CBSSports.com
Nobody really knows what goaltender interference is anymore, and the league has to do something about that - Sportsnet’s 2018 NHL Draft Prospect Rankings: March – Sportsnet.ca
With the Five Nations tournament in the rear-view mirror, we have even more peer-on-peer performances to help us evaluate the top of the NHL draft. This month, Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek ranks the top 31 prospects in 2018. - Hall point streak for Devils compares favorably with Gretzky record
Taylor Hall extended his point streak to 26 games Tuesday, and the New Jersey Devils forward’s run stacks up well against the longest streak in NHL history, by Wayne Gretzky. - CHL’s past champions excelling on NHL stage – CHL
Barzal’s name has been a prominent one for some time. The first overall pick of the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft rose to stardom with the Seattle Thunderbirds, leading them to their first WHL Championship last spring while earning Playoff MVP honours./
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