Ron Francis

Ronald Michael Francis Jr., born on March 1, 1963, is a distinguished Canadian ice hockey executive and former player, currently serving as the president of hockey operations for the Seattle Kraken in the National Hockey League (NHL). His illustrious career spans over two decades, primarily with the Hartford Whalers and Carolina Hurricanes organizations, where he dedicated a total of twenty-three years—sixteen as a player and seven in executive roles.

Francis was drafted fourth overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft and went on to have a remarkable twenty-three-season career in the NHL. He played for the Hartford Whalers from nineteen eighty-one to nineteen ninety-one, followed by stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Upon his retirement in two thousand four, he ranked second all-time in career assists with one thousand two hundred forty-nine, fifth in career points with one thousand seven hundred ninety-eight, third in games played with one thousand seven hundred thirty-one, and twenty-seventh in career goals with five hundred forty-nine.

In two thousand eleven, Francis transitioned to an executive role as the director of hockey operations for the Hurricanes, and by two thousand fourteen, he was promoted to general manager. He also became a minority owner of the team as part of the Playmakers Management investor group. However, in March two thousand eighteen, he was demoted to president of hockey operations and subsequently let go on April thirtieth of the same year.

On July eighteenth, two thousand nineteen, Francis was appointed as the first general manager of the Seattle Kraken, marking a new chapter in his career. His contributions to the sport were recognized in two thousand seventeen when he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in the league's first century.