Seattle fans woke to big news this week: the Kraken have rearranged the chairs at the top of the hockey pyramid. Founding general manager Ron Francis now carries the broader title of president of hockey operations, while trusted lieutenant Jason Botterill slides into the general manager’s seat with full control of daily roster decisions. It is the first major structural change since the franchise joined the National Hockey League in 2021, and it signals that ownership is finished nibbling around the edges after missing the playoffs in three of four seasons.
Francis, whose fingerprints are on every transaction since the expansion draft, will step back from the grind of contract talks and waiver claims to focus on big-picture strategy, pro scouting vision, and adding resources to player development. In theory, that frees Botterill to attack the most pressing jobs on the docket: finding a new coach to replace Dan Bylsma and injecting desperately needed top-line talent into a roster that is in a postion for a top ten draft pick after finishing with only seventy-six points.
Why Botterill is a logical fit
Botterill is hardly a newcomer. He spent six seasons riding shotgun with Francis, handled trade-deadline logistics, negotiated free-agent contracts, and, before that, helped assemble three Stanley Cup winners in Pittsburgh. His lone stint running Buffalo ended without a playoff berth, but that experience means the thirty-seven-year-old understands the heat of a full rebuild. He also has a reputation for marrying analytics with old-school scouting—something Seattle has flirted with but never fully embraced.
The Kraken own all of their first-round picks and project to have roughly $22 million in cap room once the offseason begins. With that flexibility, Botterill can chase scoring help on the open market or leverage draft capital to acquire a proven finisher. His to-do list is lengthy:
- Hire the right bench boss. Botterill’s first coaching hire has to strike a delicate balance—creating a clear development runway for young forwards such as Shane Wright and Jani Nyman while leaning on a strong veteran core to provide nightly stability and end the inconsistency that has dogged Seattle through its first four seasons.
- Fortify the blue line. Seattle’s scoring sat mid-pack at 16th, but defensive leaks overworked the goalies; Botterill and his incoming coach must tighten the team’s defensive structure, whether through a new system or smart personnel tweaks.
- Define an identity at last. Four seasons have produced flashes of heavy forechecking one night, possession leaning the next, but nothing consistent. Botterill spoke Tuesday about “structure” and “standards.” Fans should expect the new coach to install a style that sticks.
What Francis still controls
Moving to president is no ceremonial promotion. Francis now has the runway to expand amateur scouting coverage in Europe, modernize the analytics department, and build a development staff that mirrors gold-standard programs like Tampa Bay and Carolina. His track record at the draft has already produced blue-chip prospects: Wright, Nyman, and defenseman Ryker Evans headline a farm system that outlets such as The Athletic routinely rank in the league’s top third.
If that pipeline matures on schedule and Botterill uncovers even one top-six forward this summer, Seattle’s playoff drought could end sooner than some outsiders expect. Ownership has given the new management duo room to spend, and the Pacific Division beyond Edmonton and Vancouver is anything but sealed.
Looking ahead
Fans are right to mourn Bylsma’s abrupt exit after only one year; his work with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds hinted at long-term upside. Yet fresh voices often follow a philosophical reset, and Botterill deserves the opportunity to pick a partner whose system aligns with his roster blueprint.
The Kraken have spent four seasons searching for a personality. With Francis setting macro vision and Botterill pulling daily levers, the organization finally has a defined chain of command. Whether that clarity translates into wins will hinge on the next sixty days: draft weekend, free-agency frenzy, and, above all, the coaching hire. Nail two of those three and Seattle’s path back to May hockey gets a whole lot clearer.