RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Peter Laviolette won more games than any American-born coach in NHL history. But he didn't win enough of them lately to keep his job with the Carolina Hurricanes, so they replaced him with their winningest coach - the same one Laviolette himself replaced five years earlier.

The Hurricanes fired Laviolette on Wednesday, brought back Paul Maurice to take over for him and moved Hall of Fame player and assistant general manager Ron Francis behind the bench as Maurice's associate coach.

"Paul's always on my mind. Everybody knows he's my good friend," Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford said. "Take friendship aside, I wouldn't do this if I didn't think him and Ron were the right two to try and make some changes."

Read More...