Ronnie Franchise - Hall of Famer, Cup winner, Captain... OWNER

[Bizzle McDizzle]

Moved up the ranks quickly in the front office...

Now formally invested as a Partner in the Hurricanes.


Nice.
Super guy, met him many times.


Francis, others join Canes ownership team - WRALSportsFan.com

 

[Nasty_Magician]

I know it's wrong, but this is the first thing that always comes to mind when I see or hear Ron Francis' name:

 

[pixburgher66]

I love that man. Seriously. Just everything about him is awesome.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Is Ron Francis the most underrated player of all time?

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

I know it's wrong, but this is the first thing that always comes to mind when I see or hear Ron Francis' name:

why you I oughtta....

 

[Forty_Sixand2]

Is Ron Francis the most underrated player of all time?

PETER BONDRA!!!!

 

[forty_three]

Is Ron Francis the most underrated player of all time?

Not by anyone who knows anything about hockey and/or leadership.

Talk Mario and Jar Jar all you want. Pitt doesn't win it without him.

 

[DevilishWon]

Not by anyone who knows anything about hockey and/or leadership.

Talk Mario and Jar Jar all you want. Pitt doesn't win it without him.

The fat man will never forgive you for that but I agree.

 

[DevilishWon]

BTW Ron Francis was, is and will always be a class act.

 

[dash]

BTW Ron Francis was, is and will always be a class act.

No argument here regarding the classy Ron Francis and I would put him high on the underrated list.

/I always thought Joe Mullen didn't get the recognition he deserved. The guy from Hell's Kitchen had a heck of a career.

 

[DevilishWon]

No argument here regarding the classy Ron Francis and I would put him high on the underrated list.

/I always thought Joe Mullen didn't get the recognition he deserved. The guy from Hell's Kitchen had a heck of a career.

So true it's not funny. I worked in Manhattan for 25 years ( yes i'm old but not bossman old) and I'd say most kids growing up in that neighborhood couldn't even spell 500 let alone score that many goals...all kidding aside, it is truely incredible if you really know where he came from in NYC that he even played in the NHL, let alone starred

 

[KennyBanyeah]

Francis is underrated for sure.

I feel like Dale Hawerchuk doesn't get enough recognition looking back. He wasn't far from being in the Yzerman, Sakic stratosphere, IMO.

 

[dash]

Ducky definitely should be high on the underrated list, Kenny.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Mullen and Hawerchuk are interesting ones but a bit before my time. Peter Bondra was underrated for sure but not the most underrated of all-time. He's not quite in the same league as Francis and Hawerchuk. He's on par with Elias. Still have to go Francis since I've been watching.

 

[puckhead]

Is Ron Francis the most underrated player of all time?

I'll throw Mike Gartner in the mix.

hit the 30 goal plateau 17 times (NHL record) , including 15 in a row (NHL record).
fastest skater in the league for most of a decade, and used it effectively.

 

[sbb122]

Pat Verbeek was very underrated in my opinion. 500+ goals, over a thousand points. He is one of the last guys who come to mind when you think of the career 500 goal guys.

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

What other former player have ownership stakes in an NHL club?

Francis
Mario
Gretzky (no longer has the ownership stake in Phoenix, though, right?, so technically can be dropped from this list)

anyone else?
I have no idea

 

[forty_three]

I'll throw Mike Gartner in the mix.

hit the 30 goal plateau 17 times (NHL record) , including 15 in a row (NHL record).
fastest skater in the league for most of a decade, and used it effectively.

My vote. Mike was a joy to watch.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

My vote. Mike was a joy to watch.

Wish I saw more of him. My hockey viewing started in 94, Devils/Rangers. The Devils first cup season of 94/95 was the first season I really comprehended what I was watching and started to know players. Gartner, Verbeek, Hawerchuk were all before my time for the most part.

 

[dash]

Of course, the majority of Mike's career was with the Capitals and there was no internet or NHL Center Ice at that time, so the only chance you got to see him was when the Caps played the Leafs of Habs.

Then, the All-Star game included the Skills competition and you got to see Mike Gartner's blazing speed (and ultra smooth skating stride). That was fun.