The NHL's Seattle franchise has officially named Ron Francis as its first-ever general manager, the team announced Thursday.

The Seattle Times' Geoff Baker reported earlier this week that Francis' contract will likely run for five seasons, including the two years prior to the club taking the ice in 2021-22.

"After seven months of due diligence, research, conversations, interviews, and evaluation, we are thrilled to announce Ron as our GM," team CEO Tod Leiweke said in the team's announcement.

"Ron is the perfect fit for the team we are building. Ron will make everyone better," Leiweke added.

Francis' most recent front-office gig was with the Carolina Hurricanes. He joined the club prior to the 2006-07 season before being named director of hockey operations in 2011, and then general manager in 2014. Francis was fired in April 2018 after building the majority of the Hurricanes roster that reached the Eastern Conference Final this past spring.

The former NHLer had an incredibly illustrious playing career that spanned 23 seasons. He won two Stanley Cups, three Lady Byngs, and one Selke while racking up 1,798 points, good for fifth all time.

Seattle was unanimously approved to become the league's 32nd team in December 2018 and is scheduled to orchestrate its expansion draft in June 2021.

The club has yet to decide on a name or colors and is currently in the process of a $900-million renovation to KeyArena, which will play host to the NHL franchise.

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Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin will head to China in August to serve as an international ambassador for the NHL, the league announced Thursday.

The trip to Beijing will include visiting youth clinics, a media tour, and business development meetings.

"I think it is very important to spend time to help make people all over the world see how great a game hockey is," Ovechkin said. "I can't wait to spend time with all the hockey fans there and I hope to meet young kids who will be future NHL players. I can't wait for this trip."

The NHL staged preseason games in China in each of the last two years, but does not have any exhibitions scheduled for 2019.

Ovechkin completed his 14th NHL season in 2018-19 and won his eighth Maurice "Rocket" Richard trophy after scoring 51 goals in 81 games.

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Eric Lindros is all-in on Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander's decision to change his jersey number to 88 next season.

Lindros wore No. 88 throughout his 13-year Hall of Fame career and played 33 games with the Leafs during the 2005-06 season. The Philadelphia Flyers retired the No. 88 in honor of Lindros in January 2018.

Nylander has worn No. 29 for the last three seasons with the Leafs, but took to social media Monday to announce the switch. He even implored fans to have their Nylander jerseys recrested and offered to cover the costs.

The 23-year-old is looking for a bounceback year after recording career lows with seven goals and 27 points in 54 games last season.

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The Colorado Avalanche have signed forward J.T. Compher to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $3.5 million, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports.

Compher was scheduled to have a salary arbitration hearing July 31.

The 24-year-old, who was a restricted free agent, produced 16 goals and 32 points in 66 regular-season games with the Avalanche this past season. He added four markers and a pair of assists in 12 playoff contests.

Compher has spent all three of his NHL seasons with Colorado. He was a second-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in 2013 and was shipped to the Avalanche when Colorado dealt Ryan O'Reilly to Buffalo in 2015.

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Ryan Spooner is headed overseas.

The 27-year-old center inked a one-year deal with HC Lugano of the Swiss National League, the club announced on Wednesday.

Spooner bounced around the NHL last season, as he began the year with the New York Rangers before he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in November and dealt again to the Vancouver Canucks in February. The Canucks bought him out after just 11 games.

Selected by the Boston Bruins with the 45th overall pick of the 2010 NHL Draft, Spooner recorded 48 goals and 167 points in 325 NHL contests.

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