Ron Francis will step down from his position as president of the Seattle Kraken at the conclusion of the regular season, the team announced on Wednesday.
Francis was the expansion franchise’s first general manager, hired on July 18, 2019, in advance of the team’s debut for the 2021-22 season. In their second season, the Kraken went 46-28-8 to finish fourth in the Pacific Division and earn the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.
"His fingerprints will forever be on this organization," Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke said Thursday. "... Our ownership are forever grateful. He was our founding GM and he will always be held in the highest esteem. ... The parting with him this week was not fun, but I think he is in a good place and we are truly wishing him the best."
After defeating the defending champion Colorado Avalanche in seven games in the first round, the Kraken were eliminated by the Dallas Stars in seven games in the second round.
They have not returned to the playoffs since. The Kraken are currently 32-34-11, nine points behind the Nashville Predators for the second wild card from the West, and can be eliminated from playoff contention on Thursday.
Seattle is 5-14-2 since the Olympic break.
"We have not delivered on the promise of this team," Leiweke said. "When we went away on the break, we were sitting in a playoff spot and now we're faced with not making the playoffs for the third year in a row and it's not acceptable and we're committed to fixing it. And we are committed to improving every single aspect of the organization."
After the 2024-25 season, Francis was named president of hockey operations, with Jason Botterill elevated to general manager. Leiweke said Botterill will lead hockey operations and conduct a "full independent audit of hockey operations" after the season ends.
"We are not satisfied. We are not happy and our fans deserve better," Leiweke said.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins as a player, Francis was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007 after a 23-year career with the Hartford Whalers, Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs.
He joined the Hurricanes front office in 2006 and was promoted to executive vice president and general manager on April 28, 2014, holding that position for four seasons.
"It has been an honor to help launch and lead the Seattle Kraken over the past seven years," Francis said. "I am proud of the culture we built, the people we brought together, and the milestones we achieved, including our historic first playoff run. I want to thank our entire ownership group, everyone throughout the organization, and our incredible fans for their unwavering support. This organization has a bright future, and I’m grateful to have been part of its beginning."
