Tod Leiweke Promises a Full Audit After Kraken's Brutal Fall From Playoff Spot

The Kraken blew it. They were sitting pretty in a playoff spot when the Olympic break hit. Now, after a spectacular crash, they're staring at a third straight year without postseason hockey, and the front office is in full reset mode.

Ron Francis stepped down as president of hockey operations Wednesday in what the team called a mutual decision. The man who built this expansion franchise from the ground up is gone. And on Thursday morning, CEO Tod Leiweke didn't mince words about why.

The Promise Wasn't Met

Leiweke praised Francis for his work with the farm system and the brand, but the numbers don't lie. Outside of one magical run fueled by career years and unsustainable shooting percentages, the Kraken have been bad. Sixth, seventh, eighth in the Pacific Division. Not good enough. Not even close.

"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. It's not acceptable, and we're committed to fixing it, and we're committed to improving every single aspect of the organization."

They can be formally eliminated from the postseason Thursday night. The window to save the season is basically closed.

What Happens Now

Leiweke laid out the next moves: a full, independent audit of hockey operations led by Botterill. A multiyear plan to strengthen the roster through free agency. Better communication with season-ticket holders so fans actually know what's happening behind the scenes.

"I am very, very, very confident that we're going to get this team to be in a good place, but it's going to take a plan, and we're going to set mile markers, and our fans are going to know where we are," Leiweke said.

As for the coaching staff, Leiweke gave every indication that Lane Lambert is staying put. "Lane has coached his (butt) off this year," he said. "We owe a lot of people better."

Leiweke stopped short of calling this a rebuild, just like he did last year. But the message is clear: they're going back to the drawing board, and the fans deserve answers.

"You can put any label on it that you want," Leiweke said. "We are not satisfied, we are not happy, and our fans deserve better."

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