The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Friday that Ron Francis will be joining the team as special advisor, hockey operations - a return for Francis after he helped the team win back-to-back Stanley Cups as a player.
Francis will assist the Penguins’ hockey operations leadership group with strategic planning, roster construction and optimization of all internal systems and processes, the Penguins said in a release. He will assist with all facets of roster construction, including the NFL Draft, trade deadline and free agency.
“Ron has a deep affinity for the city of Pittsburgh and the Penguins. He cherishes his time spent here as a player where he had tremendous success and is an outstanding ambassador for the Penguins and the city of Pittsburgh,” said Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas.
“Ron’s playing experience, management experience, and familiarity with the Penguins and Pittsburgh will be a great benefit to our organization and all members of our management team. We look forward to having a person of Ron’s experience and character in our front office as we continue to work to build the Penguins back into a perennial Stanley Cup contender.”
The 63-year-old Francis most recently spent time with the Seattle Kraken, where he was named the first general manager in franchise history in 2019 and held that role until 2025, when he was promoted to president of hockey operations. It was announced in April that he would step down from that role at the end of the season.
Prior to his time in Seattle, Francis held various management roles with the Carolina Hurricanes from 2006-18.
Francis had a decorated career as a player in the NHL, finishing with 549 goals and 1,798 points (fifth-most all-time) over 1,731 games played (fifth-most all-time) with the Hartford Whalers, Penguins, Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs. He helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1992, is a three-time Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner and also won one Selke Trophy and one King Clancy Memorial Trophy.
Francis was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.
The Penguins are coming off a season in which they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers after finishing 41-25-16 in the regular season.
