Carolina Hurricanes Extend Contract of Executive VP & GM, Ron Francis Through 2018-2019

The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Tuesday that they have extended the contract of Executive Vice President and General Manager, Ron Francis until the end of the 2018-2019 National Hockey League season. 

Francis, the former Hurricanes captain, will be beginning his third season as general manager and 11^th, within the management of the organization. This past season, he helped lead Carolina to a 15-point improvement in the standings. 

During the offseason, he dealt Teuvo Teravainen and Bryan Bickell away, as he was able to add Lee Stempniak and Viktor Stalberg to his roster, to help aid with a young group of players, which includes defenseman Noah Hanifin and Justin Faulk. 

Prior to be selected as the team’s general manager, he assisted the organization in the roles of Director of Player Development, Assistant General Manager, Associate Coach and Director of Hockey Operations.  

Hurricanes owner, Peter Karmanos, Jr. said, “Ron has built our organization the right way, stocking our team and system with young players who will help this organization compete for the Stanley Cup year in and year out. I am thrilled that he will continue to see the job through. The future is very bright for the Hurricanes in Carolina.”   

In 23 NHL seasons, 16 within the Hurricanes franchise, as the organization was located in Hartford and North Carolina, he has put up 549 goals and 1249 assists. Francis ranks fifth on the NHL’s All-Time scoring list behind, Wayne Gretzky (2857 points), Mark Messier (1887), Jaromir Jagr (1868) and Gordie Howe (1850). 

In assists, he ranks second behind “The Great One,” who had 1963. He ranks third in games played with 1731, only Howe (1767) and Messier (1756) have more. 

The 53-year-old, was drafted by the Hartford Whalers, fourth overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. 10 years later he was dealt, along with Grant Jennings and Ulf Samuelsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins for John Cullen, Zarley Zalapsky and Jeff Parker. He returned to the Hurricanes organization prior to the 1998 NHL season. 

On March 9, 2004, the Hurricanes dealt him again to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a fourth-round pick in the 2005 NHL Draft, Carolina later dealt to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Francis hung up his skates in September 2005. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, as part of the Class of 2007.