This article originally appeared on PGHHockeyNOW.com.

Recently departed Seattle Kraken president of hockey operations Ron Francis is coming back to the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.

Last season, Francis, 63, was moved up to president of hockey operations after spending six years as the Seattle Kraken’s first franchise general manager. However, rumors of diverging opinions on key matters between him and general manager Jason Botterill persisted, and in April, Francis announced he would step down as president.

Friday, the Penguins announced Francis would rejoin the organization as Special Advisor, Hockey Operations to president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas. With the Penguins, Francis won two Stanley Cups (1991, 1992) as a player and served as captain following Mario Lemieux’s retirement for the 1997-98 season.

Francis played for the Penguins from 1991 through the ’98 season.

According to the Penguins’ press release, Francis will be involved in improving the organization’s front office operations.

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Penguins Hire Ron Francis To Front Office Role originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Pittsburgh Penguins added some more experience to their front office.

Pittsburgh named Ron Francis as Special Advisor, Hockey Operations, Kyle Dumas announced on Friday. In the new role, the Penguins said Francis will ‘assist the Penguins’ hockey operations leadership group with strategic planning, roster construction and optimization of all internal systems and processes to help further implement best practices within the organization.’

“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 in a statement. “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.”

Francis served as the first-ever general manager for the Seattle Kraken in 2019,and was promoted to President of Hockey Operations in 2025, before stepping down from the role at the conclusion of this past season. He previously served as the President of Hockey Operations of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Francis, meanwhile, also played for the Penguins from 1991 until 1998, helping the team win back-to-back Stanley Cups.

The 63-year-old was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007 and was also inducted into the Penguins Hall of Fame in 2025.

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