Kraken hire Chuck Fletcher as senior advisor to GM
A notable name is moving to the Emerald City.
On Wednesday, the Seattle Kraken announced that the team has hired former NHL general manager Chuck Fletcher to become the team’s new senior advisor to GM Jason Botterill.
Fletcher joins the struggling franchise after spending the last two seasons with the New Jersey Devils, where he also served as senior advisor to then-GM Tom Fitzgerald. However, after Fitzgerald left the organization before the end of the regular season, it seemed that Fletcher was going to have to find a new job.
The Montreal native has an extensive but checkered history as a front-office executive. The son of former Toronto Maple Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher broke into the NHL ranks with the expansion Florida Panthers in 1993 as an assistant GM to Bobby Clarke. After nine years with the organization, including a brief stint as interim GM during the 2001-02 season, he joined the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim as AGM and director of hockey operations before the team’s memorable run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2003.
After four seasons in Orange County, Fletcher joined the growing powerhouse that was the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006. Working under Ray Shero as AGM, the Pens won the Cup in 2009. The following year, Fletcher received his first shot as a GM, as he was hired by the Minnesota Wild. He helped the team become a consistent playoff threat after infamously signing Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to 13-year contracts in 2012, which took place right before the NHL went into a lockout. In nine seasons, Fletcher saw his Wild make the postseason six times, winning just two series. However, after the 2017-18 campaign, the team elected not to renew his contract.
After a brief spell as an advisor with the Devils at the beginning of the 2018-19 season, Fletcher became GM of the Philadelphia Flyers in December 2018. His tenure with the team was dismal, qualifying for the playoffs once in four years. He was fired in March 2023.
