Seattle Kraken Fire Head Coach Dave Hakstol

Just one season after making the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in franchise history, the Seattle Kraken have fired head coach Dave Hakstol.

Hakstol, 55, was the Kraken’s head coach since the team’s inception in 2021. They finished out of the playoffs this season; Seattle holds the eighth position in the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery.

Before becoming the head coach in Seattle, Hakstol spent three-plus seasons as the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers and was an assistant coach in Toronto for a couple years. He was the head coach at the University of North Dakota, where he played, from 2004-15 — during which time he coached NHL players including former Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews.

I do not expect Hakstol to be out of work for very long.

written by

Tab Bamford has been writing about the Chicago Blackhawks for almost two decades. He joined Bleacher Nation as the lead Blackhawks writer in May 2022. Tab is a member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and is the author of two books about the Blackhawks: "100 Things Blackhawks Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die" (Triumph Books) and "Chicago Blackhawks: An Illustrated Timeline" (Reedy Press, 2021). Find him on Twitter/X/Instagram/Threads at @The1Tab

more blackhawks news

World Championships Game(s) Day, Avs Alive, Memorial Cup, Utah Leadership, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

Good luck figuring out which game to focus on this afternoon at the World Championship as a Blackhawks fan. Alex Vlasic, Seth Jones and the United States will face France while Connor Bedard and Canada will battle Norway. Both games...

Gustav Got Away, Maurice’s F Bomb, Wasted Comebacks, Berube’s Popular, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

We've been talking about the Blackhawks' desire to improve ever since Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson put it out there that next year was Year One of Go Time. Obviously the Blackhawks have a truckload of cap space to play...

NHL Mock Draft Roundup: More Blackhawks Pick Projections

It's still mock draft season, Blackhawks fans. And we're still wandering around the interwebs on your behalf to find reputable mocks that give us something to think about with the Blackhawks' picks in the 2024 NHL Draft. Mock Draft Roundup...

Connor Bedard Scored Again for Canada

Oh hey! Blackhawks' star Connor Bedard scored his fifth goal of the World Championships for Canada on Tuesday afternoon. https://twitter.com/BN_Blackhawks/status/1790468565675483262 Bedard helped Canada sprint to a 6-1 lead... which evaporated as Austria scored five unanswered goals in the third period...

Bruins Get Bad Brad Marchand Update Ahead Of Game 5

Bad news for the Boston Bruins this morning. Trailing 3-1 in their second-round series with the Florida Panthers, it was revealed that captain Brad Marchand will again not be available for tonight's win-or-go-home matchup in South Florida. https://twitter.com/FlutoShinzawa/status/1790401949998706932 Brad Marchand...

Oilers Reportedly Making A Big Change Prior To Game 4

Heading into the Oilers and Canucks second-round series, Vancouver was thought to be the team with the bigger concern in between the pipes. Vezina Trophy finalist Thatcher Demko was ruled out for at least the first four games of the...

Nichushkin Banned, Boring Bedard? Coaches, NHL Awards Back in Vegas, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

Some incredibly sad and undoubtedly frustrating news broke just before the Colorado Avalanche took the ice for an important playoff game on Monday evening. Forward Valeri Nichushkin, who is tied with Edmonton's Zach Hyman for the NHL's postseason lead with...

The Importance of Coaching on the Blackhawks’ Rebuild

There are so many reasons that having the right coach in place is important in any sport at any level. But I've been thinking more about that in recent days with the NHL's coaching carousel in heavy rotation this offseason...

Late Hits on Connor McDavid Lead To Punishment For Multiple Canucks

How many times over the years have you yelled "Hey! You can't do that!" at the television or, in person, at the ice when you watch someone take liberties with a star player? Well, Sunday night's game in Edmonton was...

The Russia Problem: Could IIHF Sanctions Impact the Blackhawks’ Plans?

Over the weekend, news broke that the IIHF was taking some steps regarding Russia, players and the whole are-they-allowed-to-leave issue that may have an impact on the Blackhawks consideration of top prospect Ivan Demidov, should he be deemed the best...

Latest News

Phillies vs. Mets Probable Starting Pitchers – May 16

The New York Mets (19-23), who lost their previous three games, square off against the Philadelphia Phillies (31-13) at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday. First pitch is at 6:40 PM ET.The Phillies will give the nod to Taijuan Walker (3-0,...

Rays vs. Red Sox Probable Starting Pitchers – May 16

The Boston Red Sox (22-21) play the Tampa Bay Rays (22-22) at home in Boston on Thursday. The game begins at 7:10 PM ET.This contest's pitching matchup is set, as the Rays will send Zack Littell (2-2) to the mound,...

Green Bay Packers Schedule: Dates and Times for All 17 Games, Strength of Schedule, Record Prediction

Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers caught the attention of NFL fans in the playoffs last season and hope to build on that success. What will they do this year? Check out their full schedule, record prediction, and more...

Pittsburgh Steelers Schedule: Dates and Times for All 17 Games, Strength of Schedule, Record Prediction

Despite being horrible on offense in 2023, the Steelers finished 10-7 and reached the playoffs before losing to the Buffalo Bills in the NFL Wild Card round. They then made plenty of noise in the offseason signing Russell Wilson and...

Philadelphia Eagles Schedule: Dates and Times for All 17 Games, Strength of Schedule, Record Prediction

The Eagles were bounced in a blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023 and are moving to 2024 with hopes of getting back to the Super Bowl. Their full NFL schedule is out for this fall. Let's take...

Panthers vs. Bruins NHL Playoffs Second Round Game 6 Prediction: Odds, Picks, Best Bets – Friday, May 17, 2024

The bookmakers fancy the Florida Panthers to beat the Boston Bruins in their meeting on Friday, May 17, with the visiting Panthers given moneyline odds of -148, and the Bruins at +124.Watch the NHL on Fubo!Panthers vs. Bruins Favorite, Moneyline,...

Avalanche vs. Stars NHL Playoffs Second Round Game 6 Prediction: Odds, Picks, Best Bets – Friday, May 17, 2024

The Colorado Avalanche are -120 on the moneyline against the Dallas Stars (+100) on Friday, with this tight-looking matchup taking place at Ball Arena in Denver.Watch the NHL on Fubo!Avalanche vs. Stars Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Avalanche (-120)Underdog: Stars (+100)Total: 6.5Best...

Best NBA Prop Bets Today – Thursday, May 16, 2024

In a Thursday NBA playoff slate that includes just one matchup, the Denver Nuggets versus the Minnesota Timberwolves is the only way to catch the NBA today.There are usually lots of NBA player prop bets offered for each and every...

Northwestern Returns to Wrigley Field TWICE This Fall

Northwestern will be making a return to Wrigley Field not just once this season, but twice! Due to the construction of their brand new football stadium, the Cats will be playing five of their seven home games at its temporary...

Brennen Davis Homered Again, Back-to-Back with B.J. Murray Jr. (Whom We Should Discuss)

Just about as soon as I could talk about how Brennen Davis had homered for the third time in four games, he homered AGAIN, making it four times in five games. And this time, just for fun, B.J. Murray Jr....

more blackhawks news