Ronald Michael Francis , Jr. ( born March 1 , 1963 ) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and the current general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . Drafted fourth overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft , Francis played 23 seasons in the NHL for the Hartford Whalers , Pittsburgh Penguins , Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs .
Ronald Michael Francis , Jr. ( born March 1 , 1963 in Sault Ste. Marie , Ontario ) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey centre that played 24 seasons and 1,805 career games in the National Hockey League ( NHL ) with the Hartford Whalers , Pittsburgh Penguins , Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs organizations .