Uncertain Future for Seattle Kraken’s Head Coach Dave Hakstol

As the NHL’s inaugural season ends for the 2023-24 season, uncertainty looms over the future of Seattle Kraken’s coaching staff. Recent remarks made by the team’s general manager, Ron Francis, have sparked speculation and debate about the future of current Head Coach Dave Hakstol. With the Kraken in evaluation mode for both coaches and players, important decisions will be made that will shape the seasons to come. 

The 2023-24 season was rocky for the Seattle Kraken, with many ups and downs. The Kraken roster was on a constant rotation of players out with injuries, which heavily impacted the team’s chemistry and contributed to their poor performance. Additionally, the Kraken also struggled with shooting and goal scoring, seeing a significant dip compared to the previous 2022-23 season. 

“We were first in shooting percentage last year. This year, I think we were twenty-eighth. We were fourth in goals for last year, and this year we’re twenty-ninth,” Francis said, showcasing his disappointment during his end-of-season interview. “That’s an area we certainly have to look at and try to figure out why (scoring) didn’t happen.”

Over the past three seasons, Hakstol has led the Kraken to a 107-112-27 record. In their second year, the Kraken finished the season with 100 points and a spot in the playoffs, making it to game seven of the second round against the Dallas Stars. This year, they ended with 81 points and were officially eliminated from a chance in the playoffs during the first week of April. However, the team had fallen apart long before then, with a significant struggle in their offense and an eight-game losing streak.