Pittsburgh Penguins Hire Ron Francis as Special Adviser

The Pittsburgh Penguins have hired Ron Francis as special adviser of hockey operations. Francis previously spent 12 years with the Carolina Hurricanes, including as GM from 2014-18. He spent 23 seasons in the NHL, including eight with the Penguins from 1990-98. During that time, Francis won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1991 and 1992. And he also had his career best in points with Pittsburgh in 1995-96, scoring 119 points. Francis, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008, had 1,798 points in 1,731 regular-season games for the Hartford Whalers, Penguins, Hurricanes, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said 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. Dubas noted Francis's playing experience, management experience, and familiarity with the Penguins and Pittsburgh will be a great benefit to the organization. So the Penguins look forward to having a person of Ron's experience and character in their front office. Francis ranks fifth in points and second in assists in NHL history. His 1,249 assists are a testament to his exceptional passing ability. But what's more, Francis's experience as a player and GM will help the Penguins build a strong team. The Penguins are working to build a perennial Stanley Cup contender, and Francis's expertise will be invaluable. He will work closely with the management team to make key decisions. Francis's first game with the Penguins was in 1990, and he quickly became a fan favorite. His number 10 jersey was retired by the Penguins in 2002. Now, Francis is back with the team, and fans are excited to see what he will bring to the organization.