The Seattle Kraken are headed toward a protracted offseason, as they’re more likely to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After a promising run throughout the 12 months, the Kraken are going back to the drafting board in an effort to construct toward the playoffs. Once they begin their offseason planning, though, they may not have Ron Francis working within the front office.
Francis is stepping down as President of Hockey Operations, as reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Seattle later confirmed the news, saying that the veteran executive will leave at the top of the season. This marks the primary time in Seattle’s history that Francis is not going to be within the front office. He served because the team’s first general manager, being hired in July 2019.
“It has been an honor to assist launch and lead the Seattle Kraken over the past seven years,” Francis said in a press release released by the team. “I’m happy with the culture we built, the people we brought together, and the milestones we achieved, including our historic first playoff run.”
“I would like to thank our entire ownership group, everyone throughout the organization, and our incredible fans for his or her unwavering support. This organization has a shiny future, and I’m grateful to have been a part of its starting,” he continued.
Francis helped construct Seattle’s first, and currently only, playoff team. The Kraken finished with 100 points of their second season, making the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Seattle took down the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche, as well. Nevertheless, they fell to the Dallas Stars within the second round that 12 months.
Since then, the Kraken have did not make the postseason. Francis was eventually replaced by Jason Botteril as general manager. Now, the longtime executive and Hockey Hall of Famer is stepping away from a franchise he helped construct from Day 1.
The Seattle Kraken are headed toward a protracted offseason, as they’re more likely to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After a promising run throughout the 12 months, the Kraken are going back to the drafting board in an effort to construct toward the playoffs. Once they begin their offseason planning, though, they may not have Ron Francis working within the front office.