Dave Hakstol. Seattle Kraken.
There’s nothing like cutting it close. With four weeks to go before the Seattle Kraken pick players in the expansion draft, they hired a head coach. Former University of North Dakota and Philadelphia Flyers coach Dave Haskstol will be the franchise’s first bench boss. He’s a good choice.
When looking over the qualifications needed to lead the Seattle Kraken, Hakstol checks off many boxes. There will be many young players on the roster over the team’s first few seasons. Seattle’s head coach will have to be a good teacher.
Before coming to the National Hockey League, Hakstol coached the North Dakota Fighting Sioux/Hawks for 11 seasons. His teams reached the Frozen Four seven times with players such as Jonathan Toews and T.J. Oshie in the program. It was a great job to learn how to deal with young players.
What Vegas did in 2017-18 was the exception, certainly not the rule. Expansion teams generally don’t win many games. But since the Knights did so well in their debut season, expectations will be high in the Emerald City. So, it won’t be easy for the Kraken as they begin their NHL Journey.
Their coach will need to set an example with the fans and media while under heavy scrutiny. Coaching in Philly can make the tamest of personalities hard. That city has no patience for losing or excuses. The fans there will eat under producers alive.
Hakstol was in Philadelphia long enough to develop a thick skin. He can deal with fan expectations and demanding media.
While not a deal-breaker, NHL head coaching experience is a plus. The Seattle Kraken job isn’t really made for someone who has to feel their way around the league. Knowing the opponents and NHL referees makes it easier for the team. Even though he wasn’t a head coach last year, Hakstol kept his hand in the game as one of Sheldon Keefe’s assistants in Toronto.
For those who say Hakstol didn’t impress with Philadelphia, relax. There are plenty of coaches/managers who didn’t excel in their first go-around leading a team. Both Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll struggled before their careers took off. Belichick was 36-44 in five seasons with Cleveland. Then he went to New England and the rest is history. Closer to home, coach Pete put up a 33-31 record before coming to the Emerald City.
As far as the NHL goes, Scottie Bowman coached three and a half years in St. Louis before coming to the Canadiens in 1971. Al Arbour underwhelmed in St. Louis before leading the Islanders to four Cups. Even Gerard Gallant, who took the expansion Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Finals, started his head coaching career on rocky ground. From 2003-2007 he put up a 56-76-4-6 record in Columbus.
I could go on and on with stories of coaches such as Claude Julien, Alain Vigneault, and Jacques Demers. The point is that there aren’t many overnight successes. For any coach to succeed, he has to be the right man at the right time.
As important as the above items are, Hakstol’s biggest job will be to set the Seattle Kraken organization up for future success. Building a strong franchise isn’t easy. The first coach will go a long way to making it happen.
Future Kraken players and fans will look back at these first few seasons as the cornerstone of a successful organization. Hakstol’s job is to put a quality product on the ice that the community can be proud of because they play hard and do the little things to win games. That’s part one.
Part two is a little more difficult. It’s setting up a team culture. From how to show up for practice to representing the team during games, Dave Hakstol is responsible for making it happen and in a way that stands the test of time.
This is an excellent hire by Seattle Kraken General Manager Ron Francis. Dave Hakstol has the skills to do the job and do it well.
Some might say that Hakstol wasn’t the Seattle Kraken’s first choice. The fact of the matter is, Francis hired the best person available to do the job. If Francis wanted Gallant, he could have hired him at any time over the last six months. Rick Tocchet interviewed with Francis and didn’t get the gig. Hakstol is the choice, and it’s a good one.
What do you think about the Seattle Kraken hiring Dave Hakstol as their first head coach? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.