Ron Francis' tenure as general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes was a period of rebuilding and transition, marked by both astute moves and decisions that didn't pan out as hoped. While he inherited a difficult situation, his efforts to reshape the team yielded mixed results. Here's a look at some of his best and worst moves:

The Best

1. Drafting Sebastian Aho: One of Francis' most successful moves was selecting Sebastian Aho with the 35th overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Aho has blossomed into a star forward and a cornerstone player for the Hurricanes, consistently leading the team in scoring and playing a vital role in their offensive success. This pick exemplifies Francis' ability to identify and acquire talent outside of the top lottery picks.

2. Acquiring Teuvo Teravainen: In the 2016 offseason, Francis traded a couple of draft picks to the Chicago Blackhawks for Teuvo Teravainen and Bryan Bickell. While Bickell's career was tragically cut short due to multiple sclerosis, Teravainen has become a key member of the Hurricanes' top-six forward group, providing skill, playmaking ability, and offensive production. This trade is viewed as a significant win for Francis, as Teravainen has consistently contributed to the team's success.

3. Re-signing Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce: Francis focused on investing in the team's existing talent, notably re-signing Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce to team-friendly deals. These two defensemen have become integral parts of the Hurricanes' defensive core, providing stability, skill, and reliability on the blue line. Securing these players long-term at reasonable cap hits was a crucial move for the team's future.

4. Trading Eric Staal: In 2016, with Eric Staal's contract expiring and his performance declining, Francis made the difficult decision to trade the long-time Hurricanes captain to the New York Rangers. In return, the Hurricanes received Aleksi Saarela and two second-round picks. While the return may not have been a blockbuster, it was a sensible move to acquire assets for a player who was likely to leave in free agency. This demonstrated Francis' willingness to make tough decisions for the long-term benefit of the team.

5. Shipping out Andrej Sekera: At the trade deadline in 2015, Francis sent pending UFA Andrej Sekera to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a second-round pick and a conditional first-round pick. Sekera had been a valuable defenseman for the Hurricanes, but with his contract expiring, Francis made the prudent decision to acquire assets rather than risk losing him for nothing in free agency.

The Worst

1. Signing Scott Darling: Arguably Francis' most criticized move was acquiring goaltender Scott Darling from the Chicago Blackhawks and signing him to a four-year, $16.6 million contract. Darling was expected to be the Hurricanes' долгосрочное solution in goal, но he struggled mightily in his only season with the team, posting aGoals Against Average of 3.18 and a save percentage of .888. This signing proved to be a costly mistake, as Darling failed to live up to expectations and was eventually moved.

2. Lack of "Big" Moves: Francis was often criticized for his cautious approach and reluctance to make significant player-for-player trades. While he focused on building through the draft and making smaller acquisitions, some felt that he was too hesitant to make the bold moves necessary to push the team over the hump. This risk-averse approach contributed to the team's struggles to make the playoffs during his tenure.

3. The Alexander Semin Buyout: While Ron Francis didn't sign Alexander Semin, he was the one who had to deal with the repercussions of the contract. After signing Semin to a one-year "tryout", previous GM Jim Rutherford extended the often-injured Semin for an additional five seasons. Francis was ultimately unable to find a trade for Semin and instead opted to buy out the once 40-goal scorer.

4. The Marcus Kruger Trade: Hoping to add some stability to the bottom-six forward group, Francis traded a fifth-round pick to Vegas for Marcus Kruger. While Kruger was known as a shutdown center, he didn't provide much of an impact offensively and didn't significantly improve the team's performance.

5. Failing to Address Scoring and Goaltending Consistently: Throughout his tenure, the Hurricanes struggled to consistently score goals and maintain reliable goaltending. Despite addressing these needs at times, Francis was unable to find долгосрочное solutions in these key areas, which ultimately hindered the team's ability to compete for a playoff spot.