LOS ANGELES -- Welcome to our series on who wore each number best for the Penguins.
The idea is being openly borrowed from our new hockey writer, Cody Tucker, and his project at the Lansing State Journal covering all the uniform numbers worn through Michigan State football history, one that's been well received by their readers and prompted heavy discussion and debate.
Under the organization of Taylor Haase, and following the voting of a big chunk of our staff, we'll publish one new one each day until completion, which should be right around the start of training camp.
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Name: Ron Francis
Number: 10
Position: Center
Born: March 1, 1963 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Seasons with Penguins: 1991-1998
Statistics with Penguins: 533 games, 164 goals, 449 assists in regular season, 97 games, 32 goals, 68 assists in playoffs
WHY FRANCIS?
As Francis was getting older through his playing days, he'd often joke that it didn't matter because "I don't have a step to lose."
True enough. He wasn't the swiftest on his skates, not even as a rising star in Hartford. But by the time he arrived in Pittsburgh in what always will be the most seismic trade in franchise history -- he, Ulf Samuelsson and Grant Jennings from the Whalers for John Cullen, Zarley Zalapski and Jeff Parker in early 1991 -- he was in peak form. Which in his case meant being nothing less than one of the smartest, slickest players in NHL history. And that more than overcame any athletic issues.
Beyond that, he's one of the most beautiful human beings and beloved players in recent Pittsburgh sports history, in no small part for his above-and-beyond work with special-needs folks motivated by his own brother being one of those. Mention his name to anyone who's encountered him, and they'll share a story of something a little extra he did.
On June 28, 2007, Francis was voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot.
And of all the numbers we discuss through this ongoing series, this will be among the very few that should be discussed for potential retirement someday.
WHAT'S HE DOING NOW?
Francis, 55, is currently out of hockey, but probably not for long. Soon after bombastic Tom Dundon took controlling ownership of the Hurricanes in January 2018, Francis was demoted from general manger to president of hockey operations and had his contract terminated in April. It was a disappointing ending for a player who had meant everything to the Carolina-Hartford organization as a player, assistant coach and executive.
IT WAS SPOKEN
"I always said put me in front of 40 or 50,000 people and play hockey, I'm comfortable there. Put me in front of 50 people to talk or get in front of, and that's where I'm probably the least comfortable." -- Francis, on his quiet nature
"Ulf Samuelsson and I were roommates for 12 years and after games in Hartford we would talk about whether we thought we could win the Cup each year. Each year we said ‘No’ but if we made the right moves maybe we could. We played three games in Pittsburgh and I sat there and looked at him and said, ‘Remember the discussions we used to have about winning the Stanley Cup? This team could win it. I really do think so. We have all the pieces. We’ve got a chance.'" -- Francis, reflecting on the 1991 trade
HONORABLE MENTIONS AT NO. 10
Pierre Larouche
Peter Lee
Dan Quinn
Gary Roberts
Any debate?
There couldn't be, even though Larouche had a great four-year run to start his career in Pittsburgh and Roberts became a folk hero with his tenacious style. Though both players are worthy candidates and still have deep ties to the area, neither came close to having the impact that Francis did.
Tomorrow: Bradford has No. 11.
Yesterday: Pascal Dupuis
