Seattle Kraken GM Delays Decision on Coach Hakstol's Future After Disappointing Season

Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis has postponed a decision on the future of head coach Dave Hakstol following a disappointing 2023-24 season. This marks a shift from the Kraken's previous approach of promptly addressing coaching staff after unsatisfactory seasons, indicating a potential coaching change.

The Kraken attempted a similar approach as the previous season, but the results were not as successful, with the team winning only 34 games compared to 46 wins the previous year. Francis is now assessing the true ceiling of the current Kraken roster and whether the 46 wins or the 34 wins are more representative of the team's potential.

Francis plans to meet with the coaching staff and the franchise's management team to evaluate Hakstol's performance. The Kraken players have acknowledged the team's shortcomings this season, with everyone seeming to want a share of the blame. If the Kraken are serious about winning, changes may be necessary, but it remains to be seen if the ownership is willing to make significant changes to the status quo.

Why this matters: The Seattle Kraken's decision on their head coach's future could have significant implications for the team's direction and success in the coming seasons. As a relatively new franchise, establishing a winning culture and making the right personnel choices are critical for the Kraken's long-term growth and competitiveness in the NHL.

Francis said the team will conduct a full review of Hakstol and his staff over the next few weeks before making a decision. The Kraken's performance this season has not generated enough positive energy around the team, and there is discussion about potentially replacing Hakstol. However, the timing of the decision is critical, as the Kraken may have to wait for other teams' coaching vacancies to be filled before they can secure a replacement.

The Kraken struggled with offensive output, ranking near the bottom of the league in goals scored and shooting percentage, despite strong defensive metrics. Injuries to key players like Andre Burakovsky, Philipp Grubauer, and Vince Dunn also took a toll. Francis remains optimistic about leveraging the team's salary cap space and draft picks to improve the roster's offensive dynamism, signaling a potential coaching change and a focus on bolstering the offense as the offseason priority.

Last season, Hakstol was a Jack Adams Award candidate and received a contract extension, but the team's inability to maintain consistency and scoring issues this season have raised questions about his future. Francis noted the team had a top-10 defense but struggled to score, finishing 29th in goals per game. The Kraken have nine picks in the upcoming NHL Draft and Francis did not rule out making trades to improve the roster. As Francis stated, "We

Key Takeaways

• Kraken GM Ron Francis postpones decision on head coach Dave Hakstol's future.
• Kraken's 2023-24 season saw a drop from 46 to 34 wins, raising questions.
• Kraken to evaluate Hakstol's performance, with potential coaching change looming.
• Kraken struggled with offense, ranking near bottom in goals scored and shooting %.
• Kraken have 9 draft picks, may make trades to improve roster's offensive dynamism.