According to Emily Kaplan of ESPN on Thursday, the Seattle Kraken have named David Hakstol of Warburg, Alberta as their first head coach in franchise history. Hakstol, who is 52 years of age, previously coached the Philadelphia Flyers from 2015 to 2019.
In four seasons with the Flyers, Hakstol had a record of 134 wins, 101 losses, and 42 losses in extra time. Twice Hakstol guided the Flyers to the playoffs. In 2016, the Flyers lost to the Washington Capitals in six games in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, and in 2018, the Flyers lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.
Prior to coaching in the National Hockey League, Hakstol spent four seasons coaching the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League from 1996 to 2000, and then 15 years with the University of North Dakota. He was North Dakota’s assistant coach in 2000-01, associate coach from 2001 to 2004, and head coach from 2004 to 2015. After being the head coach of the Flyers for four years, Hakstol was an assistant coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs under head coach Sheldon Keefe for two years starting in 2019.
As a player, Hakstol reached as high as the International Hockey League, where he played for the Indianapolis Ice and Minnesota Moose. He also played three seasons as a defenseman for the University of North Dakota.
