As of this writing, nearly three weeks have passed since the Seattle Kraken gave head coach Dave Hakstol his marching orders. Despite controversy surrounding an ESPN report that said some players could give general manager Ron Francis an ultimatum: fire their coach or not play, the Northwest Sea It remains quiet. Even if you search for “Seattle his Kraken his head his coach” on Google, most results will show the April 29 date that Hakstol was recognized for his work. Some reporters and podcasters have mentioned the candidates in recent weeks. Let's jump in and discuss.
Dan Bylsma
Before we get into the current NHL head coaches and who's been off the bench lately, let's talk a little bit about Dan Bylsma. He seems like the best candidate. Whether he really is or not is debatable, but it would be strange not to consider him. He already has ties to the Kraken organization, as he coaches the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the American Hockey League (AHL). Are all the intriguing players like Shane Wright, Ryan Winterton, and Ryker Evans who have gotten minutes in Seattle this season? Bylsma is currently coaching them.
He did great things for the Firebirds, leading them to the 2023 Calder Cup Final and, as of this writing, the 2024 postseason Western Conference Finals. He has a lot of NHL experience. Plus, he led the Pittsburgh Penguins to a championship in 2008-09 and has a ring to prove he can win. Under his leadership, Pittsburgh also reached the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2012-13 season.
His two seasons in Buffalo (2015-2017) were not very successful. Then again, no coach has led the Sabers to the playoffs in over a decade, and Bylsma's two seasons weren't exactly disastrous (68-73-23). Sure, other coaches who are or have been in the NHL might get people more excited, but Bylsma should be seriously considered. He's part of his DNA with the Kraken through his AHL.
rod brindamour
Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour's name was mentioned long before the New York Rangers eliminated his team in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He and Francis have known each other since their days in Carolina. They were on the roster when the club reached the finals in 2002.
Related article: Hurricanes' playoff quest ends with loss to Rangers in Game 6
Brind'Amour is known for his relative success behind the bench in Carolina. He took the job in 2018, and since then the Hurricanes have been one of the most consistent franchises in the NHL, despite not having a championship to reward their efforts. But unlike the Toronto Maple Leafs, whose deep roster was often eliminated in the opening round, Carolina has reached the conference finals twice and the second round three times. It's fair to argue they never made it through, but it would be equally unfair to say they completely failed in the playoffs.
Brind'Amour's side is an interesting blend of good defense, good attack and toughness. They may not be great at anything, but they are very good at everything. For that alone, Kraken could benefit from a more multifaceted approach to success. What could prevent Brind'Amour from working for his former teammate is a new contract offered by the Hurricanes organization.
tod mcclellan
Todd McClellan came up in conversation on a recent episode. 32 Thought Podcast. Elliott Friedman is one of the great hockey writers of our time and has a very hard job. If he says Seattle was thinking about McClellan, that means they were.
McClellan's proposal is delicate. He obviously had a very good season, especially with the San Jose Sharks. From 2008-09 to 2010-11, the Sharks scored over 100 points every season, placing them first in the Pacific Division and advancing to the Western Conference Finals twice.
However, there were bumps in the road. He was with the Edmonton Oilers during the early Connor McDavid era, but missed the playoffs in two of his three full seasons. He was relieved of his duties early in his fourth season (2018-19), and then moved on to Los Angeles, despite being years removed from the franchise's glory days in the early 2010s when they won two Stanley Cups. -Joined the Kings. He led the Kings to the postseason in 2021-22 and 2022-23 after two non-playoff campaigns, only to be promptly eliminated by none other than McDavid and the Oilers. He was given a pink slip despite posting a decent record of 23 wins, 15 losses, and 10 draws after 48 games in the 2023-24 season.
No one disputes whether he is a good coach or not. The worry is that he might look a little like Sheldon Keefe. Give him a great roster and he'll produce a solid regular season, but little success in the playoffs. He coached for nine seasons starting in 2013-14, but only advanced to the second round once.
Jay Leach
Another name Friedman brought up in his talk 32 Thinking The show is Jay Leach. Don't worry if the name means nothing to your readers. He has never been a head coach in the NHL. If you're just a casual observer of the Kraken, you might not even know that he was Dave Hakstol's assistant.
Leach is a candidate who doesn't get much attention. His playing career has also been somewhat spotty. He was heavily depicted bouncing back and forth between NHL teams and the AHL. His reputation as a coach was largely established during the five seasons he spent on the bench for the Providence Bruins from 2016 to 2021. He joined the Kraken that same year when the team hired its original staff.
In fact, much of the Kraken's defensive success can be attributed to Leach, according to this article that claims Leach is a perfect fit for the New Jersey Devils. It certainly says something that Hakstol and assistant Paul McFarland were shown a way out, but Leach was not.
Again, it would be all great if Leach could set up Seattle's defense, which would be very good, but that's not something the club lacks. We need to score more goals. It's unclear how, if at all, Reach will help in that regard.
The Kraken are at a crossroads in many ways this offseason. Not only is the NHL Entry Draft looming, but as of this writing, teams have no idea what they need, who they should sign in free agency, who they should re-sign, and who they should let go. We don't even have a head coach who can give us an opinion on whether we should or not. Or choose at draft time. Considering other clubs like the Ottawa Senators, Sabres, and Maple Leafs have already found new coaches, Seattle has fewer options left. This is a big decision for obvious reasons, and you have to respect what GM Francis is doing wisely, but one thing is certain: the clock is ticking.
