Hockey Hall of Famer Ron Francis is returning to the Pittsburgh Penguins — not as a player, but as a key voice in the front office. The two-time Stanley Cup champion was announced Friday as a special advisor for hockey operations.
Francis spent eight of his 23 NHL seasons wearing a Penguins jersey, helping the team capture back-to-back championships in the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons.
General manager Kyle Dubas welcomed the move enthusiastically. “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,” Dubas said. “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.”
At 63 years old, Francis will take on responsibilities that include strategic planning and roster construction. The team says he will also offer guidance during major hockey events including training camp, the NHL draft, the trade deadline, and free agency.
Before rejoining Pittsburgh, Francis spent seven seasons with the Seattle Kraken. He served as their inaugural general manager starting in 2019 and was later elevated to president of hockey operations in 2025.
Prior to his time in Seattle, Francis worked in the Carolina Hurricanes front office for 12 years, including a stint as executive vice president and general manager from 2014 to 2018.
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017, Francis was a four-time All-Star who earned the Lady Byng Trophy three times along with the Selke Trophy and King Clancy Memorial Trophy once each.
Over the course of his playing career, Francis scored 549 goals across 1,731 games. He ranks second all-time in assists with 1,249 and fifth in career points with 1,798. In addition to Pittsburgh, he suited up for the Hartford Whalers/Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
