Seattle Kraken Evaluate Coaching Staff After Playoff Miss

Seattle Kraken General Manager Ron Francis states that evaluations are still being conducted regarding the future of head coach Dave Hakstol following the team's failure to qualify for the playoffs in their third season.

Seattle Kraken Evaluate Coaching Staff After Playoff Miss

Seattle, Washington - In the wake of the Seattle Kraken's disappointing third season, which saw them miss the playoffs, general manager Ron Francis announced that the team is engaged in a comprehensive evaluation of the coaching staff, including head coach Dave Hakstol.

Francis emphasized that the process is ongoing and declined to confirm whether Hakstol would remain in his position for a fourth year. "There are numerous factors to consider, and we will continue our deliberations in the coming weeks," Francis stated.

Hakstol, who was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year last season, led the Kraken to their first playoff appearance in franchise history in 2022-23, upsetting the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in the first round. However, Seattle's performance declined significantly in their third season, finishing with a record of 34-35-13 and 81 points, well short of a playoff berth.

Francis acknowledged that injuries to key players played a role in the team's struggles, but he also expressed concern that the message of the importance of sustained effort was not fully absorbed by the team.

"We communicated that maintaining the success of last season would be challenging. While I believe they understood this message, I am not convinced they truly grasped its implications," Francis said.

Despite ranking among the top 10 teams in several defensive metrics, the Kraken's offense faltered this season, ranking 29th in goals scored and 29th in shooting percentage. Francis emphasized that addressing this issue would be a primary focus during the offseason.

With significant salary cap space and a wealth of draft picks, the Kraken have ample opportunities to bolster their scoring. "We will explore all available options to improve our team and return to a winning trajectory," Francis affirmed.

Francis also provided updates on the health of several injured players. Defenseman Vince Dunn missed the final 20 games of the season due to a neck injury, while forward Andre Burakovsky missed six weeks early on with a broken collarbone.

The Kraken began the season with an underwhelming 8-14-7 record, including an eight-game losing streak. A strong surge in late December and January briefly reignited playoff hopes, but a loss to San Jose before the All-Star break seemed to extinguish those aspirations. The Kraken finished with a dismal 13-16-3 record after the All-Star break, with a particularly disheartening overtime loss to Vegas on March 12 effectively ending their playoff hopes.

The Kraken's failure to make the playoffs this season has prompted a thorough evaluation of the coaching staff. Francis emphasized that the process is ongoing and that a decision regarding Hakstol's future with the team will be made in the coming weeks.