RALEIGH - In his state-of-the-team news conference Thursday afternoon, Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford made it clear he had not yet seriously considered whether to make a coaching change.

But Peter Laviolette's future is clearly on the agenda, and one way or another, it figures to be a busy summer after the Canes missed the playoffs for the second straight season.

"I have enough information now to digest over the next couple of weeks and see what changes I may consider making," Rutherford said.

While he did mention the controversial lineup decisions at the end, Rutherford said it was his opinion that the team's play in the first half of the season cost it a playoff spot.

"We went through a period of time in November and December, of undisciplined, lackluster, inconsistent [play], and I think that's most of the words -- and poor work ethic," Rutherford said. "That's what really cost us the playoffs."

Rutherford also criticized the team's play in its own zone and a few decisions to go for wins in regulation instead of playing for overtime and a guaranteed point. The Hurricanes had more wins than a handful of playoff teams but fewer overtime losses.

"I have a lot of disappointment in the way our team played in its own end," Rutherford said. "I like the style of play we have. I think it's great for our fans. I think it's fun to watch with the offense. I really don't want to see that style change.

"But I do think we need to get away from cheating in the defensive zone when killing penalties and cheating in the defensive zone to go on the offense when we should be more responsible defensively."

In other areas, Rutherford said re-signing Sergei Samsonov is his first offseason priority, with making a forward-for-defenseman trade next on the list, and he downplayed the likelihood that Ryan Bayda or Keith Aucoin would be back as the team intends to get bigger on the fourth line.

He said he has yet to hear from Glen Wesley or Bret Hedican on whether either has made a decision about retirement, nor did he provide any information on David Tanabe's career-threatening concussion, although he said Tanabe did not attend his scheduled postseason exit meeting.