With names like Gerard Gallant recently swiped from the market, Seattle Kraken General Manager Ron Francis announced today that the team has hired Dave Hakstol as its first-ever head coach.
Hakstol becomes the first head coach in franchise history. He has coached 289 career NHL games as a head coach over parts of four seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, posting a 138–109–42 career record. Hakstol guided the Flyers to the postseason in 2016 and 2018 as a head coach.
(Photograph courtesy of the Seattle Kraken)
Prior to his tenure with Philadelphia, Hakstol served as the head coach for the University of North Dakota for 11 seasons, guiding the school to a 289–143–43 record and seven Frozen Four appearances.
“Tracking back to University of North Dakota days, Dave is a coach who cares about his players. At times, a coach’s messages can get diluted. Players want to understand what the coach wants them to do. Dave communicates clearly and concisely. Players like that.”
(Photograph courtesy of the Seattle Kraken)
The 52-year-old Hakstol joined the Toronto Maple Leafs as an assistant coach on July 29, 2019 after being let go by the Flyers on Dec. 17, 2018.
With the head coach position solidified, Francis is ready to set a plan for the Expansion Draft on July 21 and the NHL Entry Draft on July 23–24. The announcement comes three days after former Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks and Minnesota Wild forward J.T. Brown was named the first color analyst in franchise history.
SEATTLE, WE GOT OUR GUY!
Dave Hakstol (@hakstol2), has been named the the first-ever head coach in #SeaKraken history!
Get to know our new bench boss → https://t.co/uiBhw09CfE pic.twitter.com/fe9p7Hry64
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) June 24, 2021