Major Domino Falls: Kraken and Ron Francis Part Ways as Franchise Seeks ‘New Direction’

Ron Francis will be stepping down as the Seattle Kraken’s president of hockey operations at the end of the 2025-26 regular season, which will conclude on April 16. The move was announced by the team on Wednesday, described as a mutual agreement between Francis and Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke.

It is not a firing, as both sides framed it as the right time for a “thoughtful transition” and a chance for the organization to “move in a new direction.”

Francis, 63, had been with the Kraken since July 2019 as the franchise’s very first general manager. He built the team from scratch, overseeing the expansion draft, hiring the first coach, setting up the AHL affiliate, and navigating the team launch amid the COVID era. He deserves credit for helping get this franchise off the ground.