Seattle Kraken sign GM extension through 2026-27 season
Hired to be the first GM in franchise history, Francis weathered a rough first season and helped win the pieces that turned Seattle into a playoff rock team.
SEATTLE – Seattle Kraken signed general manager Ron Francis to a three-year contract extension on Wednesday through the end of the 2026-27 season after the franchise reached the second round of the NHL knockout stages of the year. the second exists.
Hired to become the first GM in franchise history, Francis made it through a tough first season and helped win the lands that turned Seattle into a playoff team for the second year without having to mortgage the players. future opportunities or expose Kraken to challenging pay-cap situations.
“Ron has done outstanding work over the past four years and deserves this recognition,” said Seattle co-owner Samantha Holloway. “He’s built a great team that put Seattle’s hockey game on the map. He’s building to long-term success and is dedicated to his city, fans, and community. we.”
Seattle is Francis’ second stop as chief executive after spending seven seasons in Hurricane Carolina’s main office. Francis started out as a hockey executive before becoming general manager in 2014. Francis was euthanized by Hurricanes after the 2018 season.
Seattle jumped at the opportunity to put the Hall of Fame player in front of the main office. Seattle’s Open season was a poor run for Kraken with a 27-49-6 scoreline and a bottom in the Pacific Division with 60 points. But Francis was able to move veteran players to reserve draft picks and leave enough salary cap to make some key moves heading into his second season.
Seattle signed free agent Andre Burakovksy in exchange for winger Oliver Bjorkstrand and included rookie Matty Beniers in Seattle’s top squad from day one of the season. The results on the tape are undisputed. Seattle won 46-28-8 and hit 100 points, knocking out defending champion Stanley Cup Colorado in the first round of the knockout stages before falling to Dallas in seven games in the conference semifinals.
Francis also bonded with coach Dave Hakstol after that difficult first season. He could be the next to be renewed by the team after a season in which he was recognized as a finalist of the Jack Adams Award for top coach in the league.
