Kraken's Ron Francis to Step Down at Season's End

Ron Francis will step down as president of hockey operations at the end of the season, the Seattle Kraken announced Wednesday. Francis, 63, was promoted from his longtime role as general manager last April, shortly after the Kraken fired coach Dan Bylsma.

The decision was mutually agreed upon, with the Kraken struggling this season at 32-34-11 and having lost 10 of their last 11 games. Seattle is likely to miss the playoffs for the third straight season, tied for the fourth-fewest points in the NHL. Francis has been with the organization for 7 years, helping build the franchise from its inception.