RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced changes and restructuring for the team’s hockey operations department.

Several staff members have received contract extensions and promotions. Ron Francis, who is entering his seventh season in the team’s front office, has been promoted to Vice President of Hockey Operations. Jason Karmanos, in his 15th year with the Hurricanes, is now Executive Vice President and Assistant General Manager. Rod Brind’Amour joined the team’s front office in 2010, and will serve as a full-time Assistant Coach in 2012-13. Assistant Coach Dave Lewis and Director of Defensemen Development Glen Wesley also each received contract extensions.

“We feel that the staff we have assembled in our hockey department is stronger than ever,” said Rutherford. “I am very fortunate to have Ron working with me on a day-to-day basis in the front office. With Rod coaching full time and Dave agreeing to an extension, our coaching staff is solidified with a tremendous amount of experience.”

Rutherford also announced several new hires in addition to the existing staff adjustments. Former Hurricane Cory Stillman has joined the organization, taking the position of Director of Forwards Development previously held by Brind’Amour. Stillman, 38, retired as a player in September 2011 after 16 NHL seasons, and spent the 2011-12 season working as player development assistant for the Florida Panthers. A first-round selection (6th overall) of the Calgary Flames in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, Stillman totaled 278 goals and 449 assists (727 points) in 1,025 career games with the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers. Stillman won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Lightning in 2004 and the Hurricanes in 2006.

“We’re very happy to have Cory back in our organization,” said Rutherford. “He’s always had a mind for the game and is just a great hockey guy.”

Greg Stefan, 51, rejoins the Hurricanes’ coaching staff as Goalie Coach. A former NHL goaltender with the Detroit Red Wings, Stefan served as Carolina’s goaltending coach from 2005-2007, holding that role when the team captured its first Stanley Cup championship in 2006. Stefan worked as a pro scout for the Hurricanes in 2011-12. Tom Barrasso, who served as an assistant coach for the Hurricanes last season, will remain with the team as a pro scout.

Dave Hunter, who has worked as a part-time amateur scout for Carolina for the past four years, also joins the team as a pro scout. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, but raised in St. Catharines, Ont., Hunter played college hockey at Cornell from 1982-86. Hunter coached high school hockey in Reading, MA, for 13 years, and has served as the head coach at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for two seasons.