Successful Transition to Front Office Not Easy

On the surface, the promotion of Ron Francis to fill the void Jason Karmanos Jr. left behind when he resigned last week seems like a no-brainer.

Franchise is one of the greatest players in NHL history, finishing his storied career with the fourth most points in the history of the league. The only players that tallied more goals and assists than number 10 were some guys named Gretzky, Messier and Howe…not bad.

But, before Canes fans start saving their spot on Fayetteville St. for the next championship parade, there is something to consider: history has taught us that excellence on the playing field, or in this case, the ice rink, doesn’t necessarily translate to success in the front office.

This is not to say the most successful player in franchise history won’t do a fine job, merely that it’s not a guarantee.

Ask the fans of the Milwaukee Bucks, the Washington Wizards and the Phoenix Coyotes about former superstars and their front office expertise - McHale, Jordan and Gretzky, respectively, are probably as bad at coaching and scouting as they were good at shooting and scoring.

Francis, wisely, is quick to admit that he’s nervous about his new undertaking. He’s the first to confess that when it came to hockey he knew he could play – he doesn’t know he can do this. The former franchise player is out of his comfort zone and he knows it.

There are, however, several factors working in Mr. Francis’ favor.

For one, Francis’ accomplishments were the result of his cerebral approach to the game and not his overwhelming athleticism. He was never the fastest skater, the hardest shooter or the most brilliant scorer, but he out-thought opponents like very few have before or ever will again.

Luckily for the Hurricanes, it’s easier to teach thought process than it is speed. Michael Jordan can’t tell a kid how to jump as high as he could, but the Canes new assistant GM can sure as heck tell a youngster to look for the trailer on an odd-man rush.

The point is, Francis’ style is more conducive to coaching, teaching and scouting than that of “His Airness” or “The Great One”. Those guys were simply better than everyone else and for the same reason they rendered us speechless during their careers, they themselves often couldn’t find the right words to describe how they did it or which prospect had the best chance to be the next “them.”

The former captain also has a good working relationship with some of the younger guys on the Canes roster already, having worked with them as a mentor and power play tutor.

Moreover, his commitment to the team and the positive impression he has already left on Jim Rutherford in his year-plus back with the Hurricanes, leads me to believe he is not just another retired superstar craving an impressive business card, but a brilliant hockey-mind eager to take on his next challenge.

I admit, I cringe a little bit every time a Hall of Famer comes back to the game that made him famous to take a post in the front office. I’ve seen one too many close-ups of a dumbfounded Larry Bird (who was a good coach before he moved upstairs and proceeded to oversee the complete destruction of the Pacers franchise as the director of basketball operations) to ever feel at ease with the move.