Former Carolina Hurricanes general manager and Hockey Hall of Famer Ron Francis will be named the first general manager of the new Seattle NHL franchise later this week.

The news was first reported by the Seattle Times’ Geoff Baker.

Seattle will play its first season in the NHL during the 2021–22 season.

BREAKING: Seattle’s NHL team to name a new GM later this week. It’s Hall of Famer Ron Francis, who captained three teams in a 22-year NHL career. https://t.co/uJyud340wO #NHL #NHLSeattle #NHLGM #Whalers #Hurricanes #Penguins

— Geoff Baker (@GeoffBakerTIMES) July 17, 2019

Can confirm, Ron Francis will he named the first GM of the Seattle franchise (@GeoffBakerTIMES was on it first). Official announcement is expected this week.

— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) July 17, 2019

According to Baker, Francis will receive a multiyear deal, believed to be five years (two years crafting the team and three NHL seasons), that has a salary “described as midrange.” Francis will also be able to hire his front-office assistants and coaches and give input to the team’s name, which is expected to be decided by the end of the year.

During his time as an NHL GM with the Hurricanes, Carolina never made the playoffs, but Francis did draft and help develop star Sebastian Aho and acquired Teuvo Teravainen. The Hurricanes were cash strapped during that time and could not spend to the cap.

The former Selke Award winner scored the fifth-most points in NHL history with 1,798 and won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Francis was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2007.

Headline photo: Carolina Hurricanes