"While no official announcement has been made, the Carolina Hurricanes are expected to retain Paul Maurice as head coach next season.

At the same time, associate head coach Ron Francis is expected to give up his coaching position and return to a full-time front-office job with the organization. The Hurricanes' director of player personnel, Francis served as assistant general manager before going behind the bench in December 2008 when Maurice replaced Peter Laviolette as coach.

Hurricanes president and general manager Jim Rutherford will address the media today at 11 a.m. The news conference will mark the first time he has publicly discussed the team since the Canes ended the season April 9 with a 6-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning that kept Carolina out of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Maurice has one year remaining on a three-year contract he signed after the 2008-09 season. The Hurricanes reached the Eastern Conference finals that season but has missed the playoffs the last two seasons.

The Canes face some tough decisions on players due to become unrestricted free agents on July 1 - forwards Erik Cole, Jussi Jokinen, Chad LaRose, Cory Stillman and Patrick Dwyer; and defensemen Joni Pitkanen and Jay Harrison. Pitkanen, who earned $4.5 million last season, was the Canes' highest-paid defenseman and could demand more in the free-agent market, which could leave his future with the Hurricanes in doubt."