The Seattle Kraken went through an exhaustive process searching for their first head coach and have finally reached a decision. GM Ron Francis has announced that Dave Hakstol will be the organization’s first bench boss. In a statement, Francis explained his decision:
It is certainly is a job that interested a lot of candidates. There is a lot to like about the job with our ownership group setting the franchise for success. Dave is a hard-working guy. I liked his confidence during the interview process.
Dave has a strong understanding of the technical aspect of the game-how he wants his team to play in all three zones [on the ice]. He’s up for the challenge.
In Seattle, Hakstol is getting a second crack at a head coaching job after his first stint with the Philadelphia Flyers didn’t go all that well. He reached the playoffs in two of the three years that he completed, but was knocked out of the first round both times. Overall, he recorded a 134-101-42 record in parts of four seasons, while winning just four of 12 postseason contests.
For the past two seasons, he has been serving as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hakstol was responsible for the defense corps under both Mike Babcock and Sheldon Keefe, but will now take another step up to the head coaching position. Of course, his experience in that role isn’t limited to the seasons in Philadelphia. For a decade before coming to the NHL, Hakstol served as head coach of the University of North Dakota hockey program, leading powerhouse teams year after year. Before he joined the collegiate ranks he was the head coach of the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers, another prestigious program at the amateur level.
He and Francis also have a history together from the 2019 IIHF World Championship, when Hakstol served as an assistant coach. Jason Botterill, who has joined Francis’ management team in Seattle was also part of that the leadership of that iteration of Team Canada. They’ll now get together for the new challenge of trying to take an expansion team to competitive status in short order. The Kraken have just one player–21-year-old Luke Henman–under contract.
This hiring leaves just two vacancies left in the NHL, those in Arizona and Buffalo. Rick Tocchet, who has seemingly received multiple interviews all over the league, has been passed over in Seattle, New York, and Columbus. Other names that were interviewed by Seattle include David Quinn, Rocky Thompson, Joe Sacco, Kevin Dineen, and Tony Granato, but it is Hakstol that has won the job.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
shouldve just overpaid for Gallant
Doubt they could go head to head with the Rangers when it comes to money and why would Gallant take an expansion team over a young team that is just about ready for prime time…
Why wouldn’t Gallant have been willing to take an expansion team? He’s already proven he’s willing and able to make it work
Well, at least Coach Hakstol is familiar with the basic color scheme… BTW, it may have been that Turk wasn’t interested in relocating to the Northwest U.S., regardless, even though the argument of “familiarity breeds contempt”, aka “going back to the division that crapped on you last” comes to mind…
Wow just wow…
I love Ronnie but he’s gonna do this all wrong, isn’t he?
Seattle is poised to be a big market, big money team that could win right now, but…he’s going to be “patient” and turn them into the Blue Jackets 2.0, isn’t he?
Will not win 20 games ….
The headline should have read- “Dave Hakstol will be the first coach fired by the Kraken”.
Depends how good he is at shifting blame onto his assistants.
Now that Coach Hakstol’s vacancy in TOR is official, the rumor-mongers on Twerper are voting Gabby in to replace him.
I bet Tocchet’s gonna get that Buffalo job.
Tocchet will and deserves a coaching job…
A bit of a surprise & strange hire. Hakstol’s players quit on him in Philly & he was consistently out coached.
Kotov Syndrome
While I loved Francis as a player, I’m not so sure about his management prowess.