I'll be updating this post with quotes from Ron Francis's season-end press conference.
Similar thread with interviews with players and Dave Hakstol – https://new.reddit.com/r/SeattleKraken/comments/1c8wztv/kraken_exit_day_quotes_and_news/
https://twitter.com/sound_hockey/status/1782470161213292555
GM Ron Francis’ year end press conference is underway. Opening remarks: “The big difference this year is we couldn’t score like we did last year.” References shooting percentage decline. But compliments defense and goaltending.
https://twitter.com/AlisonL/status/1782470753415578073
Francis: on optimism about young developing players "our pipeline is very bright but there's a process to that." Says development isn't linear. There's a lot of good pieces, the challenge is intertwining them with what we have in the lineup."
https://twitter.com/sound_hockey/status/1782471668319039944
GM Ron Francis on whether the entire coaching staff will return: "We're still in that process now." Mentions that he thinks it was a bit of a "unique" season with injuries. Says "you're going to read into it either way" with that answer, but that's where they are.
More on the coach review from https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/kraken/kraken-coach-dave-hakstols-future-on-hold-until-evaluation-is-complete/
Francis told reporters during a season-ending news conference at the Kraken Community Iceplex that the process is the same as he’s used in the team’s previous three seasons. That will include meetings with the coaching staff and the franchise’s management team.
https://twitter.com/KateShefte/status/1782471912985329821
Francis says Jordan Eberle broke his hand in the fourth Kraken game of the season, at home against Colorado. He referenced the fight against Logan O’Connor. Eberle played through it.
https://twitter.com/AlisonL/status/1782471930790178817
Francis says the message to players after last year's success was "don't this is going to be easy (to repeat)." After this year's slow start, that message was a "little more stern" – players need to be ready out of the gate.
https://twitter.com/sound_hockey/status/1782472163897098520
GM Ron Francis on Matty Beniers: "He continued to work hard in practice. He continued to be [the same person off the ice]." Francis thinks cold start to the year "weighed" on Beniers. Says he has "no concerns" about Beniers long term.
https://twitter.com/AlisonL/status/1782472562364358759
Francis says regarding McCann playing both wing and center that "in an ideal world" Kraken would like to have him at wing, but he's a good fallback option down the middle as well.
https://twitter.com/AlisonL/status/1782472960193986815
Francis on state of the prospect pool specifically the success with Firebirds – "they're playing in a winning environment and learning how to win." Gives credit to scouting, coaching and development staffs.
https://twitter.com/sound_hockey/status/1782473631349735832
GM Ron Francis: Says the team looked a number of things in free agency last summer but things "didn't fall the way way they wanted them to fall."
https://twitter.com/AlisonL/status/1782474037370990893
Francis says he feels confident about play in goal and the defense in front of it "going forward" with 6 of 7 defensemen from this season already under contract for next year and the development of Ryker Evans that Kraken saw this year.
https://twitter.com/sound_hockey/status/1782474920888598783
GM Ron Francis on the team's RFAs: "We'll get conversations going really soon with Tolvanen and Beniers." Says he expects to get something done there. On Yamamoto, Francis says they have to decide whether to qualify him or not because he has arbitration rights.
https://twitter.com/AlisonL/status/1782475417242435591
Francis points to effects of injury and being unable to play as part of Burakovsky's lower point totals – can affect your confidence in your game. The GM is excited that 95 will go play in Worlds and continue to get back to his timing / scoring touch
https://twitter.com/sound_hockey/status/1782475657756442873
GM Ron Francis on Shane Wright: "He's much more confident. He's having fun again." Mentions that Wright's late season stint in Seattle "couldn't have gone much better. I don't see any reason [Wright] couldn't make the team coming out of camp [next year]."
https://twitter.com/AlisonL/status/1782475844482646483
Kraken playing in Worlds: Tatar, Grubauer, Bellemare, Burakovsky, McCann, Tanev, Oleksiak. 6-7 others elected not to participate. One other player still deciding on whether or not to go.
https://twitter.com/sound_hockey/status/1782476732571976147
GM Ron Francis: As the year went along, the team talked about naming a captain for next year rather than the current set up. Says he'll be part of those conversations.
https://twitter.com/KateShefte/status/1782476813467517229
(follow-up to previous tweet) Rob Francis says it’s a neck injury. So this makes so much sense.
Vince Dunn, who appeared in just 2 games after an illegal hit March 4 from Calgary’s Pospisil, didn't elaborate much in his exit interview. Said it wasn’t an injury he “wanted to mess with. Not something you could really play through, jeopardize myself or my team’s performance.”
2 comments
Francis has the personality of a toaster and seems to be on a 10 year roster building project.
Interesting comments about the coaching staff. I imagine he’s waiting to see who’s available in the offseason to see if it’s an upgrade.