Such is life in the NHL where nearly half of the league's teams have moved on from their coaches since the end of that 2023 season.
Head coach Dave Hakstol of the Seattle Kraken looks on during the third period against the Washington Capitals at Climate Pledge Arena on March 14, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. In 2023, Dave Hakstol led the second-year franchise Seattle Kraken to their first playoff bid. The Kraken made it to Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals and Hakstol was rewarded with a contract extension and named a finalist for the league's coach of the year.
after Hakstol was let go. "We let a guy who's a good coach and a really good person go. And it's not easy. But we're looking at the organization. And just looking at the season, I thought we were a little more inconsistent than we had been. A few too many losing streaks and losing streaks of significant numbers. And so it just felt it was time to try a new voice here.
The Kraken had a chance to make the playoffs relatively late in the season before those hopes were doomed by an untimely eight-game losing streak. Francis notes there were injuries and even at one time a sweeping illness that cost this team its best stretches of the season, but ultimately those great win streaks or stretches were matched by brutal and long stretches of games.Despite that, it's a decision that wasn't taken lightly by Francis.
"I think we reevaluate ourselves every day," Francis said. "It's something we do on an ongoing basis. What we do as a management team, I sit at the end of the year, we do as a coaching staff, with development, staff, scouting, staffs, we review all that stuff all the time. So, it wasn't until we got to the end of the season and took some time and thought about it.Francis informed Hakstol of that decision at 10 a.m.
Obvious potential candidates — it remains to be seen if they actually become candidates — include Dan Bylsma, who's currently coaching the Kraken AHL affiliate in Coachella Valley. Rod Brind'Amour makes sense given the Carolina Hurricanes' connection to Francis.
Dave Hakstol Ron Francis NHL Coach Playoffs Inconsistency Coaching Change
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