Kraken fire coach Dave Hakstol after missing playoffs - ESPN

The Seattle Kraken have fired head coach Dave Hakstol after three seasons, the team announced Monday.

Hakstol, who was the first coach in the Kraken's short history, was dismissed after the team failed to make the playoffs after finishing with 100 points and advancing to the Western Conference semifinals last season.

The club on Monday also announced assistant coach Paul McFarland would not return next season.

«I thank Dave for his hard work and dedication to the Kraken franchise,» general manager Ron Francis said in a statement. «Following our end-of-the-season review, we have decided to make a change at our head coach position. These decisions are never easy, but we feel that 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 had hinted that changes could be made less than a week after the season ended.

Hakstol, who went 107-112-27 with the franchise, becomes the second NHL coach to be fired this offseason after the San Jose Sharks moved on from David Quinn last week.

There were questions about the Kraken's decision in June 2021 to hire Hakstol, the former Philadelphia Flyers coach who had been an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Those questions remained during Seattle's inaugural season, when the team went 27-49-6 and won the fourth pick in the NHL Draft Lottery, which was used on Kingston Frontenacs center Shane Wright, who at one time was projected to go first in his draft class.

Hakstol's second season drew more praise than criticism. The Kraken became arguably the league's biggest surprise, winning 46 games and