Ron Francis Steps Down, Seattle Kraken Seek New Leadership

0:00It's April 9th, Vancouver News, today starts now. AI-powered and ready. I'm Cory with the story. Ron Francis is stepping down as president of hockey operations for the Seattle Kraken at the end of the season. The 63-year-old made the announcement earlier this week after serving in the role since last April, when he moved up from General Manager. Both sides agreed it was the right time for the change. The Kraken sit at 32 wins, 34 losses, and 11 overtime losses in their 5th NHL season. They've dropped 10 of their last 11 games and hold just 75 points, tying them for 4th-fewest in the league. Co-owner Todd Laywick praised Francis for building the franchise from scratch, starting in a small office all the way to becoming the leagues, 30-second team. He called it a thoughtful transition to head in a fresh direction. Francis reflected on his seven years with the team, proud of the culture, the staff, and that first playoff run. Seattle has it made the postseason since the 2022-2023 season when they fell to Dallas in

1:04the second round. As the Kraken pushed through this rough stretch without playoffs for a third straight year, the focus shifts to new leadership in turning things around. For a brighter path ahead.