Carolina Dismisses Maurice

Coach Paul Maurice was fired Monday by the struggling Carolina Hurricanes in his ninth season, the longest current stretch with one NHL team.

Maurice, who took the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup finals in 2002, was replaced by former New York Islander coach Peter Laviolette.

“He brings experience and an aggressive coaching style to the Hurricanes,” General Manager Jim Rutherford said.

The Hurricanes are 8-12-8-2 for 26 points, next to last in the Southeast Division.

“I got to a point that I still felt that this team had a chance this year with 52 games left,” Rutherford said. “I just felt that we needed to get some fresh ideas into our dressing room.”

Assistant Randy Ladoceur and goaltending consultant Don Edwards also are out, Rutherford said. Assistant Kevin McCarthy and recently retired Carolina forward Jeff Daniels will assist Laviolette.

Laviolette had 77 victories in two seasons as coach of the Islanders, ranking as the third-winningest coach in team history. He led the team to the playoffs in the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons but was fired after the Islanders’ first-round loss to Ottawa.

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Atlanta Thrasher All-Star Dany Heatley canceled plans to skate Tuesday for the first time since the car crash that killed teammate Dan Snyder.

The Thrashers said Heatley’s knee was sore after a rehab session Monday, so his return to the ice was postponed until later in the week.

Heatley had surgery in October for a broken jaw and two torn knee ligaments. He has been out all season and planned to work out alone in the Thrashers’ headquarters in suburban Atlanta.

Heatley was charged with vehicular homicide after Snyder died from head injuries in a Sept. 29 crash.