SEATTLE (AP) – The Seattle Kraken on Wednesday signed coach Dave Hakstol to a contract extension by way of the 2025-26 season after he led the franchise to the second spherical of the playoffs in its second season.
Hakstol had one-year remaining on the three-year contract he obtained when he was named the primary coach in franchise historical past earlier than the beginning of the 2021-22 season. He acquired the brand new deal tacking on two extra seasons due to what Seattle was in a position to accomplish in Year 2.
“We believe we are heading in the right direction with Dave as our head coach and it was important to show that confidence with this contract extension,” Kraken basic supervisor Ron Francis stated in an announcement. “Dave and his staff have done a great job of creating a close-knit, team-first mindset in our locker room and their work ethic helps set the tone for our team.”
Seattle made a 40-point bounce from Year 1 to Year 2, ending with 46 wins and 100 factors. The Kraken hovered across the high of the Pacific Division for a lot of the season and earned the highest wild-card spot within the Western Conference.
In the opening spherical of their first playoffs, the Kraken knocked off defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado in seven video games, earlier than falling to Dallas in Game 7 of the convention semifinals.
Along the best way, Hakstol was lauded for locating a system that labored with Seattle’s type of play and utilizing everything of the Kraken lineup. He was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the 12 months.
“We are building something special here in Seattle. We have a committed staff, a great group of players and an incredible fanbase,” Hakstol stated. “We took a lot of positive steps last season and we have much more to achieve.”
Hakstol, 54, was a shock alternative as Seattle’s first head coach when he was employed in the summertime of 2021 forward of the NHL growth draft. He had marginal success in his first head teaching stint within the NHL with Philadelphia, taking the Flyers to the postseason twice however by no means advancing past the primary spherical. The Flyers additionally by no means reached the 100-point mark within the common season and Hakstol was fired halfway by way of the 2018-19 season.
His first season in Seattle was a problem, attempting to tug collectively a wholly new squad with COVID-19 restrictions nonetheless in place and the overwhelming expectations of attempting to come back near what Vegas did in its growth season, when it made the playoffs.
Seattle fell brief in its growth season, placing some strain on Hakstol and his workers to indicate vital enchancment within the second season. The Kraken did greater than that, rolling off win streaks of eight and 7 video games within the first half of the season to determine Seattle’s legitimacy as a playoff crew.
The 40-point improve for Seattle was the most important in league historical past for a crew from its first to second season.
Hakstol is the second member of Seattle’s workers to obtain an extension this offseason; Francis signed an extension in May that may maintain him locked up with the franchise by way of the 2026-27 season.
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