The
Seattle Kraken
are staying with general manager Ron Francis.
On Tuesday, Kraken CEO Todd Leiweke verified that Francis will continue his role as the team’s General Manager for the coming 2025-26 season, according to reports.
Kate Shefte of The Seattle Times
.
Appointed GM of the Kraken ahead of its inaugural season, Francis has been at the helm in Seattle now for four seasons, ushering in an expansion franchise that has missed the playoffs in all but one season. In 2022-23, following a 100-point season, the Kraken qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, upsetting the
Colorado Avalanche
in the opening round before later falling to the
Dallas Stars
in a seven-game series.
This season, the Kraken will finish no better than fifth-last in the Western Conference, with the club standing 35-40-6 ahead of Wednesday’s regular-season finale against the Pacific Division rival
Los Angeles Kings
.
Following an active offseason where they significantly increased their budget, the Kraken aimed to improve their position in the rankings this season after bringing aboard several high-profile players from other teams.
Vegas Golden Knights
focus on securing Chandler Stephenson in unrestricted free agency by signing him to a
seven-year, $43.75-million pact
, while also bringing aboard seasoned defender Brandon Montour, recently crowned champion of the Stanley Cup with the
Florida Panthers
, on a
a seven-year agreement valued at $50 million
Overall, the 30-year-old Stephenson ranks second in team scoring with 51 points accumulated over 77 games, equaling his tally from last season when he played for Vegas. Meanwhile, Montour leads all Kraken defenders with 40 points, which includes 17 goals and 23 assists across 80 games.
As the Kraken look ahead to their future, they’ve been encouraged by the performance of 21-year-old center Shane Wright during his first complete season in the NHL. He has amassed 19 goals and 24 assists for a total of 43 points across 78 games. Additionally, the team made a smart acquisition by adding a former player.
New York Rangers
Move forward Kaapo Kakko, who since joining Seattle has scored 10 goals and added 19 assists for a total of 29 points in 48 games played.
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