Ron Francis on Alex Semin: Hurricanes 'not giving up on him at all'

Though they can't seem to fit Alexander Semin into a lineup anchoring the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes don't have plans to cut their $7-million man loose.

General manager Ron Francis has placed the onus on himself and his staff to resuscitate Semin's flatlining career, rather than pulling the plug on the former 40-goal scorer via compliance buyout.

"Alex is a part of the Hurricanes and we'll continue to work with him and try to help him be the player we think he can be," Francis said according to Chip Alexander of the News & Observer. "Things are different now in the way we are running things and what we expect. Our job is to continue to work with him and get the message through.

"We think we can do it. We're not giving up on him at all."

Carolina has scratched Semin for three consecutive games, winning each.