The Carolina Hurricanes know their coach will be back next season. They are still waiting to find out whether two of their aging defensemen will join him.

General manager Jim Rutherford said yesterday that the team would retain coach Peter Laviolette, who in 2006 led the Hurricanes to their only Stanley Cup title. Rutherford, however, was unaware of any final decisions from defensemen Bret Hedican and Glen Wesley about their plans for 2008-09.

Speculation swirled for the past month about Laviolette's future after Carolina missed the playoffs in both seasons after its championship run.

"This has gotten ... blown out of proportion," Rutherford said.

Laviolette met this week in Raleigh, N.C., with owner Peter Karmanos Jr. as part of the team's standard postseason review, which came roughly five weeks after the GM expressed dissatisfaction with a dismal early season stretch that ultimately cost the Hurricanes a spot in the playoffs. Carolina -- which led the Southeast Division for much of the season -- also faltered late and finished two points behind division winner Washington.

Laviolette has three years remaining on the contract he signed in June 2006. He was hired by Carolina in 2003 and is 155-119-28 in four seasons, winning the Cup in his second season.

Almost a year ago, general manager David Poile had to strip several key players off his team to save money on salary. This year the team has new ownership committed to keeping Nashville's young talent from leaving.

The proof starts with the seven-year, $31.5 million contract handed out to forward Martin Erat in the longest and most expensive deal yet for this franchise.

"A year ago at this time, I didn't know whether to take a step forward or two steps backward," Poile said.

"This is certainly a lot more fun. It's certainly a lot more motivational. I think again we're going to start putting the Predators and Nashville back on the map."

Last offseason, Poile was forced to trade goaltender Tomas Vokoun to Florida and send captain and top defenseman Kimmo Timonen and forward Scott Hartnell to Philadelphia. He watched Paul Kariya leave as a free agent and Peter Forsberg head off as well.

Jacques Martin has reached an agreement to remain with Florida as general manager through the 2011-12 season. Martin was stripped of his duties as head coach a month ago.