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RALEIGH, N.C. -- Jim Rutherford stepped down as general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, and the team promoted Hall of Fame player Ron Francis to replace him. In a series of moves, the Hurricanes also hired Mike Vellucci as assistant GM and director of hockey operations and promoted Brian Tatum to assistant general manager. Rutherford, who also owns part of the team, will remain in an advisory role as team president. He assembled the teams that won one Stanley Cup, played for another and reached the Eastern Conference final in 2009. The Hurricanes havent made the playoffs since then, the longest active drought in the East. "I look at this as a fresh start," Francis said. "I dont want to just kind of build a team that gets into the playoffs for one year. I would like to build it so that its a very solid franchise and we can do it on a yearly basis." Francis had long been considered the teams GM-in-waiting. The former team captain holds team records with 382 goals, 793 assists and 1,186 games played. He has been the teams vice-president of hockey operations since June 2012. He took over as the teams director of player development in 2006 and was an assistant coach under Paul Maurice from 2008-11 before returning to the front office that June as director of hockey operations. Now that hes running a team for the first time, it remains unclear just how much financial flexibility Francis will have. The four highest-paid players -- forwards Alexander Semin and Eric and Jordan Staal, and goalie Cam Ward -- are coming off subpar seasons. They made a combined $28 million last year and will do so again in 2014-15. "This year we were at the (NHL salary) cap, I believe. Didnt make a heck of a lot of difference, did it?" owner Peter Karmanos Jr. said. "Well set the budget wherever we think we can have the most competitive hockey team." One of Francis first jobs will be deciding whether Kirk Muller will receive a fourth year as coach. Muller is 80-80-27 in three seasons and the Hurricanes finished 13th in the 16-team East this year with a 36-35-11 record. "In fairness, I think its a decision that kind of needs due process," Francis said. Rutherford, 65, is a former NHL goalie who spent two decades as the clubs GM, and helped shepherd its move from Hartford to North Carolina. He said he and Karmanos casually discussed stepping aside and those talks grew increasingly more serious beginning in January and February and continued through the early off-season. "Twenty years is a long time for me," Rutherford said. "Ive thought about this for a few years, and certainly the time is right now." Vellucci, 47, will oversee the teams scouting and player development after spending the past 14 seasons as head coach and general manager of the Plymouth Whalers -- the Ontario Hockey League team owned by Karmanos. Tatum, 40, is entering his 17th year with the team and has been its vice-president of team operations since 2012 after spending five years as its senior director of team operations. Wholesale Dallas Cowboys Jerseys . The result means Atletico Madrid now tops the table, with Madrid level on points in second and Barcelona a point behind in third with nine games remaining as the title race shapes up to be the closest in years. Cheap Dallas Cowboys Gear . -- The Kelowna Rockets earned their 16th straight win with a 7-2 rout of the Portland Winterhawks in Western Hockey League action Thursday. http://www.cowboyscheap.com/64d-cheap-tr...ey-cowboys.html. John Albert Elway, 24, was booked into jail early Saturday morning after an incident near a college campus in downtown Denver, according to jail records. Dallas Cowboys Tony Pollard Jersey . On a hot, sweaty day, the Hall of Famer looked cool and comfortable. Discount Dallas Cowboys Jerseys . Funny, they looked like longtime friends during Pittsburghs 5-1 demolition of Dallas on Tuesday night. Quick to the puck and even quicker to the net, the Penguins top line overwhelmed the suddenly struggling Stars as Pittsburgh bounced back from a dismal weekend sweep at the hands of Philadelphia by jumping on Dallas early.Winnipeg Goldeyes manager Rick Forney announced on Wednesday the signing of veteran infielder Jacob Blackwood to a contract for the 2014 season. Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. In 126 games with San Antonio last season, the product of Kansas City, Missouri hit .259 with seven home runs and 61 RBI. He was named the starting third baseman for the South Division in the Texas League All-Star Game. "Jake is a big addition to our ball club," Forney said. "Hes the type of infielder that provides a big impact bat to our lineup. Hes been an impactful player in our league before and were hopeful he can be an impact guy for the Goldeyes in 2014." Prior to being signed bby the Padres, Blackwood had a monster year for the Kansas City T-Bones in 2010.dddddddddddd He hit .331 with 31 home runs and 86 RBI in 99 games. His home run and RBI totals led the Northern League, while his batting average was third in the league behind Kevin West and Juan Diaz of the Goldeyes. Blackwood also led the NL with 82 runs scored, 271 total bases, a .636 slugging percentage and a 1.014 OPS. Blackwood, who has experience at all four infield positions and the two corner outfield positions, was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 16th round of the 2006 MLB amateur draft. He played four-and-a-half seasons in their system before being released and signing with the T-Bones. The Goldeyes now have 12 players signed for the 2014 season, including six pitchers and six position players. 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