Ron Francis Is Done In Seattle: Kraken President Steps Down After Seven Years

The man who built the Kraken from scratch is calling it quits. Ron Francis is stepping down as Seattle's president of hockey operations at the end of the season, the team announced Wednesday. This was a mutual agreement between Francis and ownership, and it marks the end of an era for a franchise that's still finding its footing in the NHL.

The Architect Moves On

Francis, 63, was hired back in 2019 as the first general manager in franchise history. He was the guy tasked with everything: building the team from zero, overseeing the expansion draft in 2021, setting the culture, bringing in the people. The Kraken made the playoffs once in their five seasons under his watch, hitting that historic first postseason run in 2022-23 when they reached the second round of the Western Conference after a seven-game series. For an expansion team, that's not nothing.

"It has been an honor to help launch and lead the Seattle Kraken over the past seven years," Francis said in a statement. "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."

What's Next: Botterill Takes Full Control

Jason Botterill, who moved into the role of executive vice president and general manager last April when Francis got promoted, will now take over all hockey operations duties. According to multiple sources, Botterill will assume full responsibility when Francis formally steps down next week.

CEO Tod Leiweke acknowledged the transition in his own statement: "Ron and I agreed that this is the right moment to make a thoughtful transition for both Ron and the organization, and move in a new direction. He leaves behind a strong foundation of draft picks and promising prospects that will continue to shape the future of the team."

Francis came to Seattle as "hockey royalty." The guy made the Hockey Hall of Fame after a 23-year playing career that included two Stanley Cup wins with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Before Seattle, he spent eight years running the Carolina Hurricanes front office from 2014 to 2018. That didn't translate to postseason success down south, but the Kraken opportunity was different. It was a chance to build something new.

The Kraken couldn't leverage the expansion draft rules the way Vegas did, and honestly, the league got smarter about it the second time around. That's part of why Seattle's climb has been steeper than the Golden Knights' run. Now Botterill gets his shot to chart the course forward with that strong foundation Francis mentioned.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.