Published: Mon, Nov. 12, 2007 12:30AM

Modified Mon, Nov. 12, 2007 06:42AM

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In the summer of 2002, they were back at the negotiating table, agreeing on a new two-year deal after Francis hit the 20-goal mark in three of the four seasons of the original contract, including 27 goals in the final year when he captained the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup finals.

"It's not easy to be able to play at that level consistently for so long," said Hurricanes defenseman Glen Wesley, who played six seasons with Francis in Carolina. "I think that's what made him so special. He did it at the highest level possible, and did it on a consistent basis."

Only Gordie Howe can match Francis' streak of 22 consecutive seasons of 50 points or more. Of all his records -- second in assists, fourth in points, third in games played, the 29th player to 500 goals and 38th to 1,000 points -- that one may matter most to Francis.

"Being able to do that -- one, being able to stay healthy and two, playing with good guys," Francis said. "I watched my dad working up in the steel plant and going to work every day and working hard. I'd like to think those seasons were the result of coming in every night and working hard."

That's what Hurricanes forward Eric Staal noticed as an 18-year-old rookie, sitting next to Francis in the dressing room for most of Francis' final season in the NHL.

"You learn a lot from someone like that, the amount of time he spent in the league," Staal said. "You watched how he interacted with people and the way he competed and how he played. He was playing the game for so long but he still had the competitive drive every time he stepped on the ice."

A determining factor

Francis isn't the only member of his family to become an athletic superstar. His younger brother Rick is a multiple gold medalist in cross-country skiing at the Special Olympics Winter World Games.

Their mother is a good athlete, and their father was a hockey player before he quit to work at the mill when he was 18.

But perhaps it's not the genes they got from their parents that made the Francis children successful.

"I think more than anything, they're both very determined at whatever they do," Francis Sr. said. "I can see Ronnie now, with his new position there, he's got lots to learn. I can see him just going all out to learn the position and become good at it."

Over his years at the mill, the elder Francis rose from shiftworker to foreman. Now, as the younger Francis embarks on his new career in the Hurricanes' front office, he is honored for his first -- for applying the lessons of his father.