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Francis Leaves Canes For Team He Cheered As Kid

Mar 10, 2004

RALEIGH, N.C. — Carolina Hurrricanes captain Ron Francis was traded Tuesday to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Francis said Carolina General Manager Jim Rutherford began talking to him about waiving his no-trade clause Monday. Francis told the team he was willing to consider a move Tuesday morning, and the deal was done by early afternoon.

"Certainly, they've got a good team," Francis said, "and, hopefully, I can find a ittle niche to sort of help them out. I certainly know a lot about that organization, and I'm looking forward to trying to help them."

The deal stripped the Hurricanes of one of the National Hockey League's top career scorers. In return, they reportedly will get a fourth-round pick in the 2005 draft.

In his 23rd season in the NHL, Francis ranks fourth in career points and second in assists.

In 68 games this season, Francis has 10 goals and 20 assists. In 1,719 career games, he has 546 goals and 1,242 assists.

Francis said he is moving to the team he rooted for while growing up.

"Every kid grows up dreaming of playing for them," Francis said of the Leafs.

With the uncertainty surrounding the National Hockey League's labor situation, Francis said he wanted to make a final run at a Stanley Cup.

Toronto is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 86 points. The Maple Leafs also recently acquired Brian Leetch from the New York Rangers, another franchise player, as they prepare a push for the Stanley Cup.

Francis started his career with the Hartford Whalers, before being traded to Pittsburgh in 1991. He played on back-to-back Stanley Cup championship teams with the Penguins.

He returned to his original franchise for the 1998-99 season after the Whalers moved to Raleigh. He became the team's captain and elder statesman, known affectionately as "Ronnie Franchise."

Francis helped lead the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup finals in 2002, when they lost to the Detroit Red Wings. Carolina missed the playoffs last season.

This season, the Hurricanes are 12 points out a playoff spot with 14 games remaining.

Francis has been used mostly in a checking role in recent games, though he was fifth on the team in scoring, with 10 goals and 20 assists.

Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette said there is no way to know how the team will react to the trade of its captain.

"For the most part, I don't think motivation will be an issue," he said. "It hasn't been all year.

"I think it's an opportunity for different people to step up. There's some veteran players. There are also some players coming up."

Francis said he always will have fond memories of the Hurricanes' 2002 run to the finals.

"I don't think I've ever seen such a passionate display by sports fans for this team," he said.

Francis was to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Tuesday's trade was made fewer than two hours before the NHL's 3 p.m. Tuesday trade deadline.

Francis had been scheduled to earn $4.4 million this season.