Seattle Kraken fire Dave Hakstol after disappointing season

After weeks of speculation, the Seattle Kraken officially announced on Monday that they have parted company with head coach Dave Hakstol.

There had been mounting speculation in recent weeks, that the Seattle Kraken were going to fire Dave Hakstol. This speculation became a reality on Monday, with the team confirming that they have parted ways with the first head coach in franchise history.

The decision was made, despite Hakstol having a two-year extension which was set to begin on July. 1. As per an official press release by the team, Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis said:

“I thank Dave for his hard work and dedication to the Kraken franchise. Following our end-of-the-season review, we have decided to make a change at our head coach position. These decisions are never easy, but we feel this is a necessary step to help ensure our team continues to improve and evolve. Dave is a good coach and a terrific person. We wish him and his family all the best. We will begin our search for the Kraken’s next head coach immediately.”

The right decision or not?

Whether the Kraken made the right decision or not comes down to, as always, perception. For some, it was a hasty decision, coming just one year after Hakstol led the team to the playoffs in just their second season of existence.

The 55-year-old compiled a 46-28-8 record during a 2022-23 regular season, which saw the Kraken finish fourth in the Pacific Division with an even 100 points. They then knocked out the reigning Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in the first round, before losing to the Dallas Stars in seven games.

On the other hand, there was plenty of disappointment in Seattle this season, with the Kraken unable to build on their playoff success. They finished 12th in the Western Conference, 17 points out of a playoff spot with a 34-35-13 record, and their struggles highlighted by ranking just 29th in goals scored. (In fairness, it should be noted they did also allow the ninth-fewest goals among all 32 NHL teams.)

In all, Hakstol compiled a 107-112-27 regular season record during his three seasons in charge of the Kraken. He was also a finalist for the Jack Adams Award last season, which was his first nomination as an NHL head coach.

The Drayton Valley, Alberta native previously compiled a 134-101-42 record in three+ seasons as head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers. Francis also confirmed on Monday that assistant coach Paul McFarland will not be back in Seattle next season.

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Looking ahead

At the risk of stating the obvious, it is imperative that Francis makes the right choice as next head coach of the Seattle Kraken. The pressure is on for them to return to prominence, and prove to the fan base that last season’s success is sustainable over the long-term.

If nothing else, there are plenty of candidates to choose from, with 10 head coaches fired during the 2023-24 season. However, there is some belief Kraken assistant Jay Leach could also be an option.

What is your take on the decision by the Seattle Kraken, to fire Hakstol? Do you agree with the move, or do you believe he should have been given more time? Let us know in the comments section below.