Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos is expected to travel to Raleigh to meet with coach Peter Laviolette next week in a face-to-face meeting that may determine Laviolette's future with the team.

Karmanos said almost two weeks ago that he wanted to let the emotions of the season "cool off" before making any decisions going forward.

"I want an opportunity to talk to the coach and with [general manager] Jimmy [Rutherford], and talk about what kind of moves we might want to make with the playing team and all that kind of stuff," Karmanos said on April 28.

Laviolette referred an interview request to the Hurricanes' media relations department Wednesday, which said he is unavailable for comment. Rutherford also declined to comment on the coaching situation, beyond a reiteration of his previous position.

"There's no change from my point of view," Rutherford said. "I don't have anything to comment on. Everything is the same."

Laviolette has three years left on the contract extension he signed in June 2006.

Laviolette's future aside, May is still a busy month for the Hurricanes. Rutherford has a number of contract issues on his agenda that he is hoping to resolve before the team's hockey meetings in June. Negotiations with restricted free agents Tim Gleason and Tuomo Ruutu top that list.

There's also the matter of replacing marketing director Curt Johnson, who has left the team to take a job with U.S. Club Soccer in South Carolina.

Rutherford said he's likely to wait until after the team's meetings to open negotiations with Michael Leighton, the front-runner for the open position as Cam Ward's backup after an MVP-caliber season with Albany (AHL) -- including 98 saves in the longest game in AHL history.

"Michael Leighton is in the strongest position of anyone with the year he's had," Rutherford said. "He's done what he needs to do. We'll wait until June because somebody else may have some thoughts on somebody we haven't looked at or considered, but we won't leave it until July 1."

Rutherford said he's also continuing to explore options for retooling Carolina's defense with Glen Wesley and Bret Hedican considering retirement, although neither has made a decision.

Frantisek Kaberle's shoulder surgery, meanwhile, has been deemed a success, and he should be 100 percent for training camp. Kaberle was scheduled for surgery after the season and underwent the procedure last week.