Seattle GM: Likely Francis (UPD: Francis Named GM 7/18/19)

[StreetHawk]

Oops thought he was just CEO.

Not sure if Gillis would be okay with just being only a GM, he might not be the guy then.

When Brian Burke was president in Calgary he said the majority of his time and suites were corporate relations rather than hockey operations.

So GM is the more vital hire over president. The two roles would need to get along and their philosophies need to be in sync for it to work. President sets the organizational structure and way to do things.

 

[LadyStanley]

Could be an interesting hire

 

[StarterHart]

Could be an interesting hire

I'm far more ok with this than when Ken Holland was the popular rumor.

 

[StreetHawk]

I'm far more ok with this than when Ken Holland was the popular rumor.

Francis has an small ownership stake in the hurricanes. Heard he would need to sell that before he could take a job with another franchise.

If Seattle hasn’t hired a GM by now i wouldn’t expect a hire until after the 2020 draft. The heavy lifting of the draft and free agency has been done so the only major duties left would be to re-sign their own rfa.

So if Seattle is targeting an assistant gm or someone else in the management staff, this would be the time to get them otherwise they’d have to wait until June next year for that person to be authorized to leave their current team.

If someone not connected to a team ends up being the selection I would be surprised that it is taking this long to finalize the hire. Since the guys who are currently working, the summer is the best time for them to move on. Allows their current team to find a replacement or promote from within.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

 

[LadyStanley]

Seems semi official now

 

[superdeluxe]

Emily Kaplan confirms.

Done deal

 

[brewski420]

I for one think Ron Francis is a good hire. Being a long time Pens fan he is a class guy. A straight shooter with no BS.

 

[Soundgarden]

I think that's a great move. Would be kind of interesting if Seattle ends up using some variation of Whalers' colors.

 

[Legionnaire11]

Great hire!

 

[gstommylee]

I think that's a great move. Would be kind of interesting if Seattle ends up using some variation of Whalers' colors.

I doubt it.

 

[HisIceness]

Francis helped bring the Hurricanes out of the darkness that was the final years of JR. He's perfect IMO for an expansion team and should provide good prospects for the AHL team. We in Carolina are wishing him the best in Seattle.

 

[Interior Cascadian]

Sounds good to me. In Francis we trust.

 

[gstommylee]

Here's the thing before people criticize that He wasn't a great GM. He was not allowed to spend to hit the upper cap limit. Ownership at the time before the team was sold only wanted to be just above the cap floor. Now he has the chance to create a roster that is close to the upper cap limit.

 

[StreetHawk]

People bring up no playoffs in his 4 years as gm but the Canes operated on a tight budget but were not continuously in the bottom 3-5 over that time like a few other teams that missed. 2016, 2017 and 2018 they held draft positions at 10 or higher.

He did need to make an impact trade to change things up at the time he was let go.

With the lead time that teams have with this ED I don’t think Seattle will get the chance to make as many side deals as LV did. Teams knew since 2016 when LV got a team that another ED would come in the next 3-4 years so didn’t hand out nmc for ED like candy since then.

 

[gstommylee]

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Have a feeling that he hires Kevin Dineen as the first head coach, unless a big fish is available.

 

[gstommylee]

 

[gstommylee]

 

[LadyStanley]

Francis to be named Seattle general manager: report

NHL Tonight listed his experience. Lots of different jobs with Hurricanes and international. Behind the bench and front office.

 

[superdeluxe]

Seattle even had a hype video for Francis.

That was great.

 

[Big Daddy Cane]

Something to keep in mind moving forward is that Francis is a tight-lipped GM. Carolina didn't leak much to the press when he was in charge. The lack of player personnel rumors may make things a bit boring during the down times of the season and off-season.

 

[sigma six]

Pretty pumped about this, can't wait to see the team's drafts unfold.

 

[gstommylee]

my thought he and along with Alex Mandrycky (Director of Hockey Administration) gonna be a good duo in picking the players and designing the roster

 

[gstommylee]

Something to keep in mind moving forward is that Francis is a tight-lipped GM. Carolina didn't leak much to the press when he was in charge. The lack of player personnel rumors may make things a bit boring during the down times of the season and off-season.

Seattle is used to that. Sounders don't speak much of player movement publicly. Its usually the sports media, foreign journalist that bring things up.