I think if you go back and listen to the comments that Vegas had leading up to the expansion draft, their plan was to draft and develop well and be patient in the process. Early life. Spent the majority of his career with the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, which picked him 4th overall in the 1981 NHL draft. Signed as a free agent by Carolina July 13, 1998. My middle one is working at a good job in North Carolina, so I think he's content on being there at this point. So hopefully we can draft some good players in the expansion draft, and draft some good players in the amateur draft, and take the time to develop those guys. - round 1 #4 overall 1981 … From Ron Francis to Chris Chelios to Roberto Luongo, a look back on some of the biggest blockbuster trades to go down leading up to the NHL trade deadline. Ranks first in Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes' playoff history in points (39), goals (14), assists (25) and games played (62). In a candid conversation with ESPN, Francis discusses how he landed the job, his thoughts on watching the Canes' playoff run this spring, when he'll look to fill out his staff, what he's looking for in his players and coaches and whether he believes other GMs will alter their approach to the expansion draft this time around. We'll study the free-agent market and be ready for that as well. Francis: Yeah, I mean, it wasn't like we were moving down the street. The still-unnamed Seattle franchise is two years away from debuting in the NHL, but the league's 32nd team has its first GM. Named to NHL All-Star team as a member of the Whalers/Hurricanes franchise four times (1983, 1985, 1986, 1990). Ron enjoys motorcycle touring, hiking, and antique cars (1926 Ford Model T). But there's certainly a lot of Whalers around. ESPN: The Vegas expansion draft was the first one in a while and featured new restrictions. The biggest thing for me, that I took from all the meetings, is how they want to operate. Has three children with wife Mary-Lou, a daughter Kaitlyn and sons Michael and Connor. Ron Francis was born on March 1, 1963 in Sault Ste. Ron Francis, fourth on the NHL's all-time points list, had his No. So I think it will be a destination place that players, especially free agents, want to consider. Owns the Whalers/Hurricanes' records for most 20-goal seasons with 12, most assists in a season (69 in 1989-1990), most assists by a rookie (43 in 1981-1982), most goals in a game (4 - 2/12/84 against Edmonton), most assists in a game (6 - 3/5/87 against Boston) and most points in a game (6 - 3/5/87 against Boston; 10/8/89 at Quebec - 3g, 3a). We are pretty much going coast to coast, which is a big move. Francis: Yeah, I'm open to it. Beloved wife of David Francis Sr. Loving mother of David E. Francis, Crystal and her husband Mark Wiedrick and Steph Francis and her common-law husband Dale Rivers. https://thehockeywriters.com/carolina-hurricanes-tom-dundon ESPN: So you might begin scouting players this coming season? Traded to Pittsburgh on March 4, 1991 with Ulf Samuelsson and Grant Jennings for John Cullen, Zarley Zalapski and Jeff Parker. Maybe they want to up that area of what we're doing and be on the forefront there and do some innovative things. FRANCIS, Sharon – Sharon Marlene Francis, of RR#4 Mount Forest, passed away at her home on Friday, November 3rd, 2017 in her 66th year. What happened there afforded me to take this position. So I've turned the page. They're not cutting corners anywhere. Personally, I like skill and hockey sense. Led the Hartford Whalers in scoring 7 times and assists 10 times. • Draft grades for all 31 teams » The life of an NHL player can have its ups and down but imagine being a players' wife. “They’ve become more and more key as the games become more and more important,” said Francis, now the general manager of the NHL's expansion Seattle Kraken. Chris Fesler Fesler Built - Scottsdale, Arizona www.FeslerBuilt.com Fesler, Inc. is an Authorized Dealer of Ron Francis Wiring products. It was impressive to me, not only at how talented a group they were, but they came across as a group that loved what they were doing and were having fun doing it. 1996). I'm very fortunate -- my wife has been a part of this industry a while. Publicity Listings He hopes to repeat a 2018 solo motorcycle ride covering 5000 miles through western Canada and Alaska as soon as his wife will let him. We track celebrity net worth so you don't have to. That's part of where our focus is at, and we're going to have to really work hard in the next 23 months to make sure we're prepared for the expansion draft. A look into Ron Francis's net worth, money and current earnings. How much will you lean on your Whalers connections for hires? ESPN: Whom did you talk to through the interview process? Sitting with the Samuelsson family was Ron Francis' wife and children. He will forever be a part of Soo Greyhounds history. We've been married for 31 years and dated for five before that. Then we started talking. Traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991, he signed with the Hurricanes a year after it moved Raleigh. It's not always going to be smooth over an 82-game season, so you're going to want the character that can help pull you through these tough times. Marie, Ontario, Canada as Ronald Michael Francis Jr. Fra… 1993), and Connor (b. He is the father of former Phoenix Coyotes head coach and 2002 Jack Adams Award winner Bobby Francis. Francis also has the distinction of being the first ice hockey player inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Carolina traded him to Toronto for a 2005 4th round pick on March 9, 2004. I would be lying if I didn't say the passion and the fire to get back in the game started coming back; you're around NHL coaches and players and people. I think George [McPhee] and Kelly [McCrimmon] did a fantastic job. Do you think teams will be savvier this time around? Did you need to do any convincing? ESPN: What are you most proud of in your time with the Hurricanes? • Teams with a new top prospect » I spent some time interviewing with [Amazon executive/team minority owner] Andy Jassy, at that point. He has been married to You're happy for them, but there's a lot of guys who put a lot of work into that and should have been around. He set the national high school record for the javelin as a senior in 1971 at 259 ft 9 in (79.17 m); the record stood until 1988. Francis: Today's game is a fast-paced game, so you've got to be able to skate. |  I think we were patient in doing it. Francis: I got asked that question at the press conference, and I said, "I used to joke before I took this position I'd like to be the second GM in Seattle, not the first one, because of what Vegas did." Marie, ONT. He is also chairman of the board of the Universitair Centrum Sportgeneeskunde (UCS), a collaboration between Utrecht University and the KNVB. What are your expectations? Francis began high school at Kailua High School on Oahu, Hawaii, and finished at Pleasant Hill High School in Oregon, southeast of Eugene. Francis: People have gone through it once, so they know there are things they would do differently. We've been married for 31 years and dated for five before that. 1991), Michael (b. Francis was also a decathlete for Pleasant Hill. Fondly remembered by her… Ron Francis was born on March 1, 1963 in Sault Ste. 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Foote now resides in Denver, Colorado with his wife Jennifer and two sons, Callan and Nolan. I don't think you can blame a GM for trying to keep the player that he knows can play or help his team be successful. RON FRANCIS WIRING products reflect the high-end performance and ease of installation we expect from a product not to mention their customer service is unmatched." • Round 1 winners and losers » You're trying to pull all these different players who have played for different lineups and never really spent time together, so you want someone who has been there and has been through it. The next morning I had breakfast with Tod. Visit their new shop in Scottsdale, Arizona! Francis: It might have been a possibility a few months ago, but they all got jobs again! The number five is where it belongs, in the rafters of the Essar Centre with the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Craig Hartsburg, Ron Francis, and John Vanbiesbrouck. • More coverage of the NHL draft ». On Sunday, September 30, 2007, Francis' wife, Emma, was reported missing after dropping Emile off at the Palm Beach International Airport for a … ESPN: What are you looking for in a coach? He has been married to Mary-Lou Francis since 1984. I want a team that's competitive, a lot of character. On the eve of municipal elections, I was pleased to see my old friend Ron Francis throw his name in the ring for the position of city councillor in District 4 Cedar Park Heights in Pointe Claire. What's next for Sabres after the Ralph Krueger firing? Born in Ottawa ON, he was the son of Robert and Pauline (Madore) Francis. Faceoffs late in tight games are always important, particularly those in the zone of a team clinging to a … Technology, especially in this market, is very important. ESPN: In talking to Tod, I get the sense that he wants to do things a little differently with this team -- not necessarily follow every mold of the other 31 teams. Official Sites. Francis: I think the bulk of it, especially in the scouting realm, will be a year from now. ESPN: In the NHL, GMs tend to hire people they know or people they've worked with in the past. present) ( 3 children). #99 WAYNE GRETZKY Ron Francis videos and latest news articles; GlobalNews.ca your source for the latest news on Ron Francis . I think experience, for sure, is an important attribute for the first coach who is hired. Does lots of charity work for the Special Olympics, his brother Rick is a special olympian as he suffers from epilepsy. It seemed like some GMs tried to get too cute and made side deals that might have backfired in the end. Discover how much the famous Hockey Player is worth in 2021. ESPN: What was it like watching them and seeing how far they made it? --- Dinner was over and Ron Francis and his wife, Mary Lou, were busy clearing the dishes. They want to treat their staff, treat their players, their fans, the people of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest with the utmost respect and give them something special. Matching the expectations that the Vegas Golden Knights set on (and off) the ice when they redefined success for an expansion franchise in 2017-18. I feel fortunate they were willing to give me this opportunity. They had an unbelievable first season, and the franchise is in good position ever since. Ron Francis: I got involved with Hockey Canada at the World Championships -- I was on the management team with Ron Hextall -- and we were in Slovakia pretty much for the month of May. Other Works The NHL’s 32nd franchise, which is set to make its league debut in 2021-22, is reportedly preparing to name Hall-of-Famer • Takeaways from draft weekend » The biggest challenge for Francis and his new squad? But this is a different setup. FRANCIS, Cpl. Center -- shoots L. Born Mar 1 1963 -- Sault Ste. ESPN: What's your timeline for filling out a staff? I think the beauty for me, having played 23 years in the league and then being involved in the management side for over 12 years, is you run across a lot of different people and make a lot of relationships, so we'll see what transpires moving forward in that regard. They put a hard hat and goggles on me and wheeled me around the construction site. Ron Francis and Ulf Samuelsson , Philip's father, played together in Hartford and Pittsburgh and remain very close. Francis: I think you're always hoping you can be competitive out of the gate. ESPN: You're uprooting your family and moving them across the country. Obviously there is the potential of the lockout next year, so I do think we want to get some coverage this year, especially in the NHL and American league level in case that happens. They married in 1986 and have three children: Kaitlyn (b. She was willing to make the move. I think we stuck to the plan as we moved forward. They'll do things right. He only needed to be himself. ESPN: How much has Las Vegas, and comparisons to Las Vegas, come up in conversations? 10 jersey retired by the Carolina Hurricanes, where he played 16 of his 23 NHL seasons. Ron Francis. Was there anything he mentioned to you that felt different or new? Marie, Ontario, Canada as Ronald Michael Francis Jr. ESPN: How much of their playoff run did you watch? Ron Francis' vision for Seattle's NHL team: 'It will be a destination. Francis: The one thing I'll be looking for is experience, especially at the NHL level. We've been married for 31 years and dated for five before that. From 2012 to 2014, Ron took a break from Corporate America to serve in full time ministry. Francis is married to the former Mary Lou Robie, a native of Stamford, Connecticutwhom he met in Hartford during his tenure with the Whalers. As we kept progressing forward, it became apparent to me that it was a special opportunity, and a great city that offers a great quality of life; it doesn't hurt that we'd be one of six teams that has no state income tax. It doesn't hurt to have a little size and toughness in your lineup as you head into the playoffs. • The birth of the Hughes-Kakko rivalry » [2005], Returning to the Carolina Hurricanes for another season [July 2002], View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, (1984 - When Ron Francis knew something was working on faceoffs, he would experiment and not use his best moves right away. But the plan is to go full bore on the scouting staff as we go into next summer. We had a saying in Hartford: "Life on a hockey stick." I'm excited for that. ESPN: What are some attributes you're looking for in guys who will be on your opening-night roster? Francis is considered a popular sports figure in Hartford, Pittsburgh and Raleigh, and is also noted for his humanitarian and charity work. Father Monte Peters presided … I think some GMs take some criticism for that, but at the end of the day, if there's a player you're worried about losing that you know can play and know can help your lineup, then you have to give up a pick that may or may not turn into a player or a prospect that may or may not turn into a player. [58 yrs. RONALD JOSEPH - The sudden and unexpected death of Cpl. Was Named Team Captain of Hartford (1984-1991), Pittsburgh (1995, 1997), and Carolina (1999 - 2004). My youngest has one more year at university, and then he's free to choose where he wants to go. ', NHL Power Rankings: The midseason MVP for all 31 teams. I'm very fortunate -- my wife has been a part of this industry a while. ago] Height 6.03 -- Weight 200 [191 cm/91 kg] Drafted by Hartford Whalers. So I think we'll be doing some cool things with technology.