Ron Francis, President Of Hockey Ops, Leaving NHL’s Seattle Kraken

Seattle Kraken President of Hockey Operations Ron Francis (L) speaks tat a press conference announcing the promotion of Jason Botterill (R) to general manager on April 22, 2025. (Photo by Christopher Mast/NHLI via Getty Images) NHLI via Getty Images If Sundays have become the day for coaching changes late in the 2025-26 season and Mondays are about dismissing general managers , the Seattle Kraken have taken a shot at claiming Wednesday for changes at the team president level. On Apr.

8, the team announced that president of hockey operations Ron Francis will be leaving the organization at the end of this year. Francis, now 63, has been a key leader in Seattle since the early days after the NHL’s 32nd franchise was officially awarded in December of 2018. A decorated player with two Stanley Cups and multiple individual awards, Francis was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.

After spending more than a decade working his way up the executive ranks with the Carolina Hurricanes after his playing career ended, he signed on as the first GM of what was still known as NHL Seattle in July 0f 2019 . Francis had a hand in everything from the team branding to the build-out of Climate Pledge Arena and the team’s practice facility, the Kraken Community Iceplex, as well as the roster and coaching staff. Last summer, he was elevated to the role of president of hockey operations while his former assistant GM, Jason Botterill, took over as general manager and executive vice president of hockey operations.

Botterill has also been with the team since its inception. According to Wednesday’s team statement , 49-year-old Botterill will now lead Seattle’s hockey operations. Francis will not be replaced.