Penguins hire Ron Francis as Hockey Operations Advisor
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Friday that they have added a legendary former player to a hockey operations role within their front office.
Ron Francis, one of the most productive forwards in NHL history and a member of the Penguins’ 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cup championship teams, is joining Kyle Dubas’ front office as a Special Advisor, Hockey Operations.
A champion returns. After winning two Stanley Cups with the Penguins, Ron Francis is back with the organization as Special Advisor, Hockey Operations. Details: pens.pe/4vo60Fp
Francis spent eight years of his storied playing career in Pittsburgh, where he made massive contributions to the club’s first two Stanley Cup championships while putting up 613 points in 533 games in black and gold.
The Sault Ste. Marie native then returned to the Carolina Hurricanes organization, where he wrapped up his career after he began it when they were the Hartford Whalers.
After retiring, Francis worked his way up the ladder in Carolina’s front office, eventually succeeding Jim Rutherford as general manager, a post he held until 2018.
After being let go from the Hurricanes, Francis caught on as the first general manager of the Seattle Kraken, guiding the club through the expansion draft and assembling a squad that made the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs and shocked the reigning champion Colorado Avalanche.
But as that was the extent of the success Seattle has enjoyed to this point, Francis took a back seat last summer, retaining a high role in the front office while Jason Botteril was brought on as GM. Francis and the Kraken parted ways after this past season, opening the door for the hockey lifer to join the team in Pittsburgh.
Dubas and the rest of the front office are tasked this summer with continuing their dual mission of maximizing the contention window of the remainder of Sidney Crosby’s career while accruing young talent and assets for the post-Crosby era.
The Penguins shocked the hockey world by making the playoffs this season, ad they were consistently one of the three best teams in the Metropolitan Division though out the year. The season ended in disappointment with a first-round series loss to their in-state rival Philadelphia Flyers in the first round, but the year as a whole was a resounding success.
Dubas has already signed Evgeni Malkin to a contract extension to ensure his return to the Steel City for another season, and he has about $37.8 million in salary cap space he can weaponize to add assets or current talent.