Seattle Kraken fire head coach Dave Hakstol
Officials with Seattle's Kraken hockey team announced Monday that they have let head coach Dave Hakstol go. A search for his replacement has already begun.
In a statement announcing that the team had "relieved" Hakstol, Kraken General Manager Ron Francis thanked the coach "for his hard work and dedication."
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“Following our end-of-the-season review, we have decided to make a change at our head coach position," Francis said. "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 wished assistant coach Paul McFarland and his family well, further announcing that McFarland is also out the door and will not return next season.
The NHL reported Francis expanded on why the organization fired its head coach at a press event Monday, saying that there had been "too many losing streaks" last season, so they want to try something new.
When Seattle got its NHL team in 2021, Hakstol came aboard as the first head coach of the hockey team. As the team parts ways with him, the Kraken noted the team had a 107-112-27 record under Hakstol's leadership. The team also went to the Stanley Cup playoffs in the 2022-23 season.
The NHL also reported the Kraken are keeping coaches Dave Lowry and Jay Leach, along with goaltending coach Steve Briere.
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Dyer Oxley
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Dyer Oxley joined KUOW as an Online Editor/Producer in 2020, handling day-to-day upkeep of the station’s website while providing editorial oversight. He also helms KUOW’s Today So Far newsletter, an insightful daily roundup of what KUOW is reporting ... so far.
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