Hurricanes assign Ladd to Albany, Barrasso replaces goalies coach

RALEIGH (AP) -- The Carolina Hurricanes have assigned left wing Andrew Ladd to the team's American Hockey League affiliate in Albany, N.Y.

Carolina also announced that goaltending coach Greg Stefan was named coach of the Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers. Tom Barrasso was promoted to replace him.

Ladd will join Albany for a four-game conditioning assignment beginning Wednesday. The 21-year-old forward missed 16 games after injuring an ankle in the third period of the third game of the season, and returned Nov. 16 at Atlanta.

Stefan is moving to another of Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr.'s three hockey teams after spending more than two seasons coaching Carolina's goalies.

Barrasso, an 18-year veteran who won the Stanley Cup twice with Pittsburgh in the 1990s, will coach the club's NHL-level goalies while also serving as director of goalie development. He remains in charge of bringing along the goaltenders throughout Carolina's
organization.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)