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Ron Francis has provided more than goals and assists in the playoffs.
By DAMIAN CRISTODERO, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 6, 2002
DETROIT -- There is so much of Ron Francis in the Hurricanes it is scary. Of course, if you play for Carolina, it is more of a comfort.
Listen to Francis talk about approaching the Stanley Cup final in seven parts instead of as a whole, and then listen to his teammates say exactly the same thing.
Listen to Francis say how the Hurricanes do not worry about the opposition as much as their own game plan, and the rest of the team falls neatly in line.
Now watch Hurricanes center Jeff O'Neill react with little more than a raised arm after setting up Francis for the overtime winner in Tuesday night's 3-2 victory in Game 1 at Joe Louis Arena.
"It's not really nonchalant," O'Neill said Wednesday. "I think we all try to do what Ronnie does; just go out there and play as hard as you can and try to be classy."
This is just what the Hurricanes wanted in the summer of 1998, when they signed Francis, an unrestricted free agent, to a five-year, $22-million contract: someone to help mold a young, developing team, someone to help establish its identity.
Francis, 39, has done all that. Funny, though, that while Francis has helped put Carolina on the map, the team's success has done the same for him.
The native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is a sure Hall of Famer. His 1,187 assists are second all-time. His 1,701 points and 1,569 games are fifth. But Francis made his scoring statement quietly during 21 seasons.
He has only three 30-goal seasons, has not scored more than 32 and spent the past four years in what had been a hockey backwater in North Carolina.
But with the Hurricanes' first trip to the Cup final, Francis and his career are in the spotlight. His 77 regular-season points were his most since 1997-98, and his six playoff goals and nine assists are a team high.
"He's 39 years old and plays like he's 20," left wing Martin Gelinas said. "It carries over to everybody."
And he is in it for the money.
Well, not completely, but Francis admitted one of the main reasons he signed with Carolina was because of the payoff.
"I hate when guys sign a big contract and say money had nothing to do with it," Francis said. "Certainly that was a factor."
It was a homecoming of sorts. Francis began his career in 1981 with the Hartford Whalers, who became the Hurricanes in 1997.
But before Francis relocated from Pittsburgh, to where he was traded in March 1991, he did his research.
He read books about the city of Raleigh, which told him it was a fine place to live and raise a family. He talked to the players, the owner, general manager and coach about the direction of the organization.
It is the same attention to detail that marks the Hurricanes, one of the NHL's most disciplined and positionally sound teams.
Francis also listened to that little voice inside that loves a challenge.
"Also intriguing for me," he said, "was to try and sell our game, one that I think is fantastic, in a market that was predominantly known for ACC basketball and NASCAR."
Francis said had he not won Cups with the Penguins in 1991 and '92, he may have opted for a franchise closer to a championship (who knew?). But with that consideration lessened, he said, "When I put all the pros and cons down on paper, it was a good move."
It took one meeting for Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice to know he was not getting a mercenary, as he and Francis sat and discussed systems. It took one practice for Maurice to know he had something special.
"He brought an instant expectation level from the time he entered our team," Maurice said. "He has a certain preparation professionalism. ... For what Ron has meant to this team, he has meant the same to me as a coach."
And isn't that a comforting thought?