Ron Francis Steps Down as Kraken President of Hockey Operations

The Seattle Kraken announced Wednesday that Ron Francis will step down from his position as President of Hockey Operations following the conclusion of the 2025–26 regular season.

The decision was described as a mutual agreement between Francis and the Kraken ownership group, led by CEO Tod Leiweke. The move marks the end of a seven-year tenure for the man who served as the franchise's first employee and the architect of its inaugural roster.

"Ron and I agreed that this is the right moment to make a thoughtful transition for both Ron and the organization," Leiweke said. "Ron's leadership and vision were instrumental in building this franchise from the ground up".

"It has been an honor to help launch and lead the Seattle Kraken over the past seven years,” Francis said in the same release. “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. This organization has a bright future, and I’m grateful to have been part of its beginning.”

Hired in July 2019, nearly two years before the team ever took the ice, Francis’s fingerprints are on every aspect of the organization. Francis steered the Kraken to a historic 100-point season in 2022–23, which included a dramatic first-round upset of the defending champion Colorado Avalanche.

Under Franics, the Kraken drafted high-end players like Matty Beniers, Shane Wright, Berkly Catton and more, building a respectable prospect pool.

The move comes as the Kraken (32-33-11) sit on the verge of missing the postseason again, mired in a six-game losing streak that has knocked them out of the Western Conference wild-card race.

With Francis stepping down, Jason Botterill will now lead hockey operations as the Executive Vice President and GM, assuming final say on all roster decisions.