Dave Hakstol Fired by Kraken After Missing 2023-24 NHL Playoffs; Franchise's 1st HC

After falling short of the playoffs this year, the Seattle Kraken have decided to make a change.

The team announced on Monday that head coach Dave Hakstol has been fired after three seasons. Hakstol was the team's first head coach when the franchise was founded in 2021.

Hakstol coached the Kraken to a 107-112-27 record over three seasons, including a 34-35-13 finish to the 2023-24 campaign. He led the team to a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2022-23, where it fell in the Western Conference semifinals round to the Dallas Stars in seven games. He was one of three finalists for the Jack Adams Award that year.

"I thank Dave for his hard work and dedication to the Kraken franchise," Kraken general manager Ron Francis said in a statement. "Following our end-of-the-season review, we have decided to make a change at our head coach position. These decisions are never easy, but we feel this is a necessary step to help ensure our team continues to improve and evolve. Dave is a good coach and a terrific person. We wish him and his family all the best. We will begin our search for the Kraken's next head coach immediately."

Francis also announced that assistant coach Paul McFarland won't be returning to the Kraken next season. The GM indicated last week that changes were coming to Seattle.

Hakstol is now the second NHL head coach to be fired after the regular season. He joins David Quinn, who was fired by the San Jose Sharks last week.