Get to know Dave Hakstol, the NHL-expansion Seattle Kraken’s first coach

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Seattle Times reporter

Just about a month before the NHL expansion draft and more than two years after the league loaned a team to the Emerald City, the Seattle Kraken has announced who will run the franchise in its inaugural season.

Former Philadelphia Flyers coach Dave Hakstol, who most recently specialized in defense and penalty shootouts as an assistant to the Toronto Maple Leafs, is the first coach in Kraken history.

Arriving in Seattle with more than 26 years of coaching experience, Hakstol made a name for himself with the junior hockey Sioux City Musketeers before becoming an assistant at his alma mater, the University of North Dakota, in 2000.

Four years later, Hakstol became the trainer of the Fighting Hawks, where he led the team to seven Frozen Four appearances at the NCAA tournament in 11 years. Hakstol then made the leap into the NHL with the Flyers and reached the playoffs twice in three seasons.

Interesting facts about the Kraken’s trainer

Surname: Dave Hakstol

University: North Dakota

Hometown: Drayton Valley, Alberta, Canada

Remarkable: In 277 games that the Flyers coached, Hakstol went 134-101-42 and racked up 310 points. … Despite leading Philadelphia into the postseason in 2015-16 and 2017-18, Hakstol is still looking for his first win in the playoff series and crashed in the first round in both years. … He was coached 289-143-43 for 11 seasons of North Dakota … Known for his experience working with younger players, both college and professional

Quotable: “Experience is valuable. The first time I had the opportunity to be in this place, I had a lot of experience working with really good players, working with very committed, motivated players, working with great coaches, but I didn’t have the experience to work at at the level of the National Hockey League. The National Hockey League has a different rhythm in almost every area – from the 82 game schedule to the pace of day-to-day business, to the ice and the pace of the game. Experience is very valuable, there are a lot of things that I have solidified that have really solidified in relation to my philosophies, but there are other things that make you grow, learn, and develop. All of these experiences, not just in the last six years, all of my experiences are very valuable in terms of how I will apply them in the future, especially with the opportunity to work here with (Kraken General Manager) Ron (Francis) the octopus. “

Dave Hakstol is the Seattle Kraken’s first head coach.

I was told that GM Ron Francis and Hakstol’s relationship “came about during a car trip in Slovakia and the Czech Republic”. Both men have strong connections with Hockey Canada.

– Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) June 24, 2021