On Thursday, the Seattle Kraken announced the hiring of Dave Hakstol as the first head coach in team history. It is a surprising hire to many, as the 52-year-old is getting his second crack at an NHL head coaching gig. He previously coached the Philadelphia Flyers from 2015 to 2018, going 134-101-42 in that time. So, with expectations high in Seattle, here’s how Hakstol could push the Kraken to the playoffs.
Hakstol Brings Playoff Experience
Under Hakstol, the Flyers made the playoffs in both 2016 and 2018. They lost in the first round in both years, falling to the Washington Capitals in 2016 and Pittsburgh Penguins in 2018. The Toronto Maple Leafs made the playoffs twice with him as an assistant, losing to the Boston Bruins in 2019 and Montreal Canadiens in 2021. So, while the results aren’t pretty, he has at least coached in the postseason.
Hakstol is also known for his time at the University of North Dakota. There, he qualified for seven Final Fours and 11 NCAA Tournaments. He is also a two-time silver medalist, winning with Team Canada as an assistant coach at the 2017 and 2019 World Hockey Championships. If you need to make the playoffs, he is not a bad option as your coach.
The Kraken Should Have a Good Roster
Seattle is trying to win. That’s what hiring Hakstol tells me and I love it. There are several different ways GM Ron Francis can build this team. However, with this coaching hire, Francis will build his roster to give the Kraken the best chance to win now. He is surely going to load up on talented players and go for the playoffs out of the gate.
The NHL Expansion Draft is scheduled to take place on July 21st, which is when Seattle will be selecting their new players. If someone like James Van Riemsdyk is available, the Kraken should grab him. Van Riemsdyk played under Hakstol in Philadelphia and is a solid option as a top-six forward. Even someone like Buffalo Sabres forward Jack Eichel is an option for the Kraken.
Conclusion
The Pacific Northwest is buzzing as the city awaits its newest franchise. Since the coach is now official, we now await the new roster. With less than one month until the Expansion Draft, it is surely going to be a “Kraken” time for everyone.