Johnston, Larose, Smith, Madden agree to multi-year contracts

RALEIGH, NC—Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, announced today that the team has re-signed Director of Professional Scouting Marshall Johnston, Professional Scouts Claude Larose and Ron Smith and Amateur Scout Martin Madden to multi-year contracts.

“These scouts played an integral role in our championship season last year, and continue to play an important role in the future of our organization.” said Rutherford. “We are fortunate to have a group of people with their experience and backgrounds working for us.”

Johnston, 66, is in his third season as Carolina’s Director of Professional Scouting. Prior to that, he served as Director of Player Evaluation for the Chicago Blackhawks after spending six seasons with the Ottawa Senators, serving as Director of Player Personnel from July 1996 through March 1999, Assistant General Manager from March 1999 through June 1999 and General Manager from June 1999 through June 2002. During his tenure in Ottawa, the Senators earned two division titles and three 40-win seasons and never missed the playoffs. Johnston, a native of Birch Hills, Sask., played seven NHL seasons as a defenseman with the Minnesota North Stars and California Golden Seals from 1967-1974. After his playing career, he returned to coach his alma mater, the University of Denver, leading the Pioneers to the West Coast Hockey Association title in 1977-78. Johnston joined the Colorado Rockies (NHL) as Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach on May 4, 1981, and served as the team’s Head Coach for the final 56 games of the 1981-82 season. After the team moved to New Jersey in 1982, he remained with the Devils as an Assistant Coach until November 1983 and was later named Director of Player Personnel, a position he held for 10 years. During his time leading the Devils’ scouting department, the team drafted, among others, Martin Brodeur, Bill Guerin, Brendan Shanahan, Mike Dunham, Sean Burke, Scott Niedermayer, Brian Rolston, Kirk Muller and Kirk McLean.

Larose is in his 25th season with the organization. A veteran of 14 NHL seasons, Larose played in 943 games, totaling 226 goals and 257 assists (483 points) and 887 penalty minutes. He was a member of five Stanley Cup championship teams with the Montreal Canadiens and played in the NHL All-Star Game five times (1965, 1967, 1969, 1970). Larose also played for the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota North Stars during his distinguished playing career. Larose began his career with the organization as an assistant coach with the Hartford Whalers and has held various positions including Director of Hockey Operations, Head Coach of the Binghamton Whalers and Pro Scout. Claude resides in Coconut Creek, Florida.
Ron Smith is in his fourth season with the Hurricanes as a pro scout, following a distinguished coaching career that included head coaching jobs in the National Hockey League (NHL), American Hockey League (AHL) and International Hockey League (IHL). Smith retired in May 2004, completing his 11-year professional coaching career with a combined 427-319-83-12 record while coaching the New York Rangers (NHL), Binghamton Rangers (AHL), Lowell Lock Monsters (AHL) and Cincinnati Cyclones (IHL).
Martin Madden is in his fourth season as an amateur scout with the Carolina Hurricanes. Prior to joining the Hurricanes, Madden served the same role in the New York Rangers organization for six seasons. Before joining the NHL ranks, Madden was a scout for the Halifax Mooseheads while completing his MBA at HEC Montreal. Madden holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from McGill University.