Ronald Michael Francis , Jr. ( born March 1 , 1963 in Sault Ste . Marie , Ontario ) is a retired professional Canadian ice hockey center that played 25 seasons in the National Hockey League ( NHL ) with the Hartford Whalers , Pittsburgh Penguins , Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs organizations . Ronald Michael Francis , Jr. ( born March 1 , 1963 ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey center who played 23 seasons in the National Hockey League ( NHL ) for the Hartford Whalers , Pittsburgh Penguins , Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs .