General manager Jim Rutherford ended speculation about the popular coach's future Friday when he said Laviolette would return for a fifth season.

The Canes are still waiting to see if veteran defensemen Glen Wesley and Bret Hedican also will return.

Laviolette and owner Peter Karmanos met in Raleigh on Thursday to discuss the team's future and disappointing finish to the 2007-08 season, which saw the Canes miss the playoffs by two points.

"They had a really good meeting," said Rutherford, who sat in on the meeting. "Everything is the same. This became a bigger issue than it needed to be."

Laviolette guided the Canes to the 2006 Cup, but the team has missed the playoffs in the two subsequent seasons, which raised questions about his future.

The Canes led the Southeast Division by four points with four games left in the regular season, but two late losses to the Washington Capitals cost them the division title and a spot in the playoffs.

After a bitter ending to the season April 4, Rutherford said Laviolette's status would be evaluated. The GM declined to say publicly the 43-year-old coach would be back until Laviolette and Karmanos met.

"I can understand why there was speculation," Rutherford said, "but I wasn't trying to insinuate anything. It's a standard process each year. I wasn't going to take that position until everyone had the chance to meet."

Laviolette, who is 155-119-28 in four seasons with the Canes, has three years remaining on a contract he signed in June 2006. Reached by phone Friday, he declined to comment.

Karmanos, who returned to his home in Detroit, could not be reached for comment.

Rutherford reiterated Friday he was disappointed with a stretch in November and December when the team lacked focus and a consistent work ethic. That stretch, Rutherford said, cost the team, which finished with 92 points, a playoff spot.

"The big issue for me, when I look at a team, is about how it responds and its work ethic," Rutherford said. "We didn't have the focus and work ethic we needed in November and December, and it cost us."

Laviolette's immediate future is clear. The same can't be said for Wesley or Hedican.

Wesley, 39, and Hedican, 37, have not decided if they want to return to the team, retire or pursue a free-agent contract elsewhere. Both are unrestricted free agents and have until July 1 to negotiate exclusively with the Canes.

"We told [Wesley] he has as long as he wants, and he hasn't made that decision," Rutherford said.

Wesley, who has played 13 of his 20 NHL seasons with the franchise, could not be reached for comment Friday. His 1,457 games played ranks sixth on the NHL career list for defensemen. He made $1.4 million last season, a one-year contract he signed the previous summer, and finished with one goal and eight points in 78 games.

Hedican, who has been battling back and hip injuries since the lockout in 2005, has been in California with his wife, figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, who is a contestant on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."

Hedican, who had 17 points in 66 games, made $2.4 million in the final year of a six-year deal he signed in July 2002.

"I haven't had a meeting with him," Rutherford said.

Rutherford said while he awaits the veteran pair's official decisions, he'll make contingency plans about next season's defensive unit.

"It would appear that we would have to add one or two defensemen," Rutherford said.

Rutherford also has to negotiate with defensemen Tim Gleason and Dennis Seidenberg, who are both restricted free agents.