RALEIGH, N. Nike Air Max 97 Outlet .C. -- Jim Rutherford stepped down as general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, and the team promoted Hall of Fame player Ron Francis to replace him. In a series of moves, the Hurricanes also hired Mike Vellucci as assistant GM and director of hockey operations and promoted Brian Tatum to assistant general manager. Rutherford, who also owns part of the team, will remain in an advisory role as team president. He assembled the teams that won one Stanley Cup, played for another and reached the Eastern Conference final in 2009. The Hurricanes havent made the playoffs since then, the longest active drought in the East. "I look at this as a fresh start," Francis said. "I dont want to just kind of build a team that gets into the playoffs for one year. I would like to build it so that its a very solid franchise and we can do it on a yearly basis." Francis had long been considered the teams GM-in-waiting. The former team captain holds team records with 382 goals, 793 assists and 1,186 games played. He has been the teams vice-president of hockey operations since June 2012. He took over as the teams director of player development in 2006 and was an assistant coach under Paul Maurice from 2008-11 before returning to the front office that June as director of hockey operations. Now that hes running a team for the first time, it remains unclear just how much financial flexibility Francis will have. The four highest-paid players -- forwards Alexander Semin and Eric and Jordan Staal, and goalie Cam Ward -- are coming off subpar seasons. They made a combined $28 million last year and will do so again in 2014-15. "This year we were at the (NHL salary) cap, I believe. Didnt make a heck of a lot of difference, did it?" owner Peter Karmanos Jr. said. "Well set the budget wherever we think we can have the most competitive hockey team." One of Francis first jobs will be deciding whether Kirk Muller will receive a fourth year as coach. Muller is 80-80-27 in three seasons and the Hurricanes finished 13th in the 16-team East this year with a 36-35-11 record. "In fairness, I think its a decision that kind of needs due process," Francis said. Rutherford, 65, is a former NHL goalie who spent two decades as the clubs GM, and helped shepherd its move from Hartford to North Carolina. He said he and Karmanos casually discussed stepping aside and those talks grew increasingly more serious beginning in January and February and continued through the early off-season. "Twenty years is a long time for me," Rutherford said. "Ive thought about this for a few years, and certainly the time is right now." Vellucci, 47, will oversee the teams scouting and player development after spending the past 14 seasons as head coach and general manager of the Plymouth Whalers -- the Ontario Hockey League team owned by Karmanos. Tatum, 40, is entering his 17th year with the team and has been its vice-president of team operations since 2012 after spending five years as its senior director of team operations. Cyber Monday Nike Air Max 97 . TSN2 December 18 Knicks at Bulls 8pm et/5pm pt TSN2 December 18 Thunder at Warriors 10:30pm et/7:30pt TSN2 December 21 Pacers at Timberwolves 7pm et/4pm pt. TSN2 December 23 Timberwolves at Cavaliers 7pm et/4pm pt TSN2 December 25 Wizards at Knicks 12pm et/9am pt TSN December 25 Thunder at Spurs 2:30pm et/11:30pt TSN December 25 Cavaliers at Heat 5pm et/2pm pt TSN December 25 Lakers at Bulls 8pm et/5pm pt TSN December 25 Warriors at Clippers 10:30pm et/7:30pt TSN NBA on TSN - January Date Game Time Network January 1 Kings at Timberwolves 8pm et/5pm pt TSN2 January 3 Jazz at Timberwolves 8pm et/5pm pt TSN2 January 5 Nuggets at Timberwolves 8pm et/5pm pt TSN2 January 7 Rockets at Cavaliers 7pm et/4pm pt TSN January 7 Suns at Timberwolves 9:30pm et/6:30 pt. 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The fight to include womens ski jumping prior to Vancouver went to the courts only to have the Supreme Court of Canada rule against the athletes appeal in 2009. https://www.fakeairmax97wholesale.com/ . The Flames are in the midst of a six-game slide (0-5-1), their longest losing streak since an 0-6-3 skid from Jan. 11-28, 2010. They havent won since Nov. 3 in Chicago and most recently went winless on a three-game homestand.PORTLAND, Ore. - First, the Trail Blazers held LeBron James to just 11 points. Two nights later they held Dirk Nowitzki to 17.And just like that, Portland is pointing to an improved defence for two key wins.The latest was on Thursday night when Portland overwhelmed the Dallas Mavericks with a 35-18 third quarter en route to a 108-87 victory. LaMarcus Aldridge had 20 points before sitting down for the entire fourth.Damian Lillard finished with 18 points, including 10 over a stretch of just under six minutes in the fourth before he also took a seat.Portland trailed 50-46 at the half before a decisive 18-4 run in the third quarter.I think the best part about it was that we won on both ends of the floor, Lillard said. We defended really well in the first half, we just couldnt really get ourselves going like we would have liked to offensively. The second half, we put both ends together and thats why we were able to pull away.Dallas went into the game averaging nearly 112 points in their first four games of the season. Nowitzki was averaging nearly 21.But Nowitzki said it was the Mavericks defence that failed them against the Blazers.We couldnt get the stops we needed as the game turned into a walk-up-the-court game and thats not us, he said. Weve got to get stops to get the ball moving.The game was delayed several minutes midway through the fourth quarter when a fan collapsed. The woman was rushed across the court by stretcher as a paramedic performed CPR. She was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, but there was no immediate information about her condition.Nicolas Batum had eight points, nine rebounds and nine assists, but he too rested in the fourth quarter after the Blazers had built a sizable lead. Batum has four career triple-doubles.The Trail Blazers were coming off a confidence-boosting 101-82 victory over the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers that snapped a brief two-game losing streak. Lillard broke out of a season-opening funk with 27 points, and Portland held James to just 11 points, his lowest total in 115 games.Asked if he thought the teams defence was better this season, Blazers guard Welsey Matthews said: I think it is. And I think it has to be.The Mavericks lost their season opener at San Antonio but went on to win their next three, including a 118-113 victory over Boston on Monday.Weve been doing a lot of good things but our defence has been inconsistent, Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. We have to make a stand there. I have to look closely at what were doing and make sure wwere doing the right things and have the right guys in at the right times. Clearance Nike Air Max 97. We dont have a lot of time to sit around and mope.It is the first of back-to-back road games for the Mavericks, who visit the Utah Jazz on Friday night.The Mavericks double-teamed Aldridge from the start, but he led all scorers with 10 points in the first quarter.The Blazers pulled ahead 28-24 with 10:10 left in the first half on consecutive 3-pointers from CJ McCollum off the bench. Monta Ellis layup gave Dallas a 35-33 lead.Nowitzki hit a 19-foot-jumper from out front, then added a 3-pointer over Aldridge, and the Mavericks took a 45-38 lead. Nowitzki had 12 points in the second quarter and Dallas was up 50-46 at the half.Robin Lopezs dunk pulled the Blazers within 52-51, and they took the lead on Aldridges fadeaway jumper. Wesley Matthews pumped both fists and yelled after his 3-pointer made it 71-59.But Chandler Parsons, who had scored just two points in the first half, hit consecutive baskets and narrowed it to 71-66.Chris Kamans put-back layup gave the Blazers an 88-70 lead in the fourth quarter as the rout was on. Kaman scored 12 off the bench.___TIP-INSMavericks: Owner Mark Cuban is interviewed in the latest edition of Rolling Stone and reveals his greatest mistake was letting Steve Nash go. He also says that losing hurts far more than winning feels good. ... Nowitzki scored 12 points in the second quarter alone, but the Blazers held him to just two points in the second half. ... Parsons had scored 20 or more points in the past three games; the Blazers held him to 11.Trail Blazers: F Joel Freeland was available after missing the past two games with a left foot sprain. ... Portland had lost seven of the last 10 to Dallas going into the game.THIRD QUARTER WOESNowitzki says hes not sure why the Mavericks have been having trouble coming out after the half. We better figure it out pretty quick. Seems like we dont come out with any energy. Thats really unfortunate, we have got to correct that. Teams are coming out in the second half determined to pick up the pressure and we have not responded.BENCH SCORINGPortlands bench outscored the Mavericks 52-35. The reserves made seven of 12 3-point attempts and shot just over 57 per cent from the field. Thats what we need them to do. You never know when youre going to be called, but you have to be ready. And they were ready, Matthews said.UP NEXTMavericks: At Utah on Friday night.Trail Blazers: At the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night. ' ' '