— Ron Francis, who is in his seventh season with the Carolina Hurricanes front office, has been promoted to Vice President of Hockey Operations the team announced Tuesday.

The move is one of several promotions and operations changes within the team’s front office, including the addition of former Hurricanes player Cory Stillman.

Stillman will assume Rod Brind’Amour’s old role of Director of Forwards Development allowing for Brind’Amour to become a full-time assistant coach with the team.

Other changes include Jason Karmanos, in his 15th year with the Hurricanes, taking over as Executive Vice President and Assistant General Manager as well as Assistant Coach Dave Lewis and Director of Defensemen Development Glen Wesley receiving extensions.

“We feel that the staff we have assembled in our hockey department is stronger than ever,” said President and General Manager Jim 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.”

Greg Stefan will rejoin the Hurricanes’ coaching staff as Goalie Coach. A former NHL goaltender with the Detroit Red Wings, Stefan served as Carolina’s goaltending coach from 2005-07, 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.

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 of the Calgary Flames in 1992, Stillman totaled 278 goals and 449 assists (727 points) in 1,025 career games with theFlames, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning, Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators and 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.”