The Seattle Kraken are a professional ice hockey team based in Seattle. They are members of the Pacific Division of the National Hockey League (NHL).[1][2] The team was founded after the NHL approved a proposal by Seattle Hockey Partners to grant an expansion franchise to the city of Seattle,[3] and began play during the league's 2021–22 season.[4]
The team's first head coach, Dave Hakstol, was hired on June 24, 2021.[5][6] The Kraken's first season was very poor; the team finished eighth in their division due to only having 60 points, not enough to qualify for the playoffs.[7] During the 2022–23 season, the Kraken achieved a record of 46–28–8 and 100 points, which was good for fourth place in the Pacific Division and the first playoff wild card spot in the Western Conference.[8][9] This turnaround from the previous season led Hakstol to be a finalist for the NHL's coaching prize, the Jack Adams Award.[10] During that season's playoffs, the Kraken faced off against the Colorado Avalanche in the first round. They upset the Avalanche in seven games, becoming the first team to win their inaugural playoff series against the defending Stanley Cup champion.[11] However, they lost to the Dallas Stars in the second round, ending their sophomore season.[12] At the NHL Awards ceremony on June 27, 2023, it was announced Jim Montgomery, head coach of the Boston Bruins, won the Jack Adams Trophy.[13]
The next season, the Kraken struggled offensively, ranking 29th in the league in goals, with only 217.[14] Following the season, Hakstol was fired.[15] He was subsequently replaced by Dan Bylsma, who had previously served as head coach of the Kraken's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds.[16]
Key
edit| # | Number |
|---|---|
| GC | Games coached |
| W | Wins (2 points) |
| L | Losses (0 points) |
| OT | Overtime/shootout losses (1 point) |
| Pts | Standings points |
| Win% | Percentage of games won |
Coaches
editStatistics reflect time with the Kraken only. Statistics complete as of the hiring of Bylsma prior to the 2024–25 season.
| # | Name | Term | Regular season | Playoffs | Championships/awards won | Ref. | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GC | W | L | OT | Pts | Win% | GC | W | L | Win% | |||||
| 1 | Dave Hakstol | 2021–2024 | 246 | 107 | 112 | 27 | 241 | .490 | 14 | 7 | 7 | .500 | [17] | |
| 2 | Dan Bylsma | 2024–present | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | [18] | |
References
edit- ^ "Seattle Kraken hockey team statistics and history". HockeyDB. Archived from the original on July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ Rosen, Dan (December 4, 2018). "Seattle NHL expansion approved by Board of Governors". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
- ^ Rosen, Dan (December 4, 2018). "Seattle NHL expansion approved by Board of Governors". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
- ^ "Seattle Kraken Historical Statistics and All-Time Top Leaders". Hockey-Reference. Archived from the original on October 8, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ Condor, Bob (July 24, 2021). "Getting it 'Right'". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ Kaplan, Emily (July 24, 2021). "Seattle Kraken name Dave Hakstol as their first head coach". ESPN. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ "2021–22 Seattle Kraken Schedule". Hockey-Reference. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ "2022–23 Seattle Kraken Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ Didion, Alex (April 18, 2023). "NHL Playoffs, explained: what to know about Kraken's first Stanley Cup pursuit". KING-TV. Archived from the original on May 15, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ Wyshynski, Greg (May 5, 2023). "B's Montgomery leads coach of the year finalists". ESPN. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
- ^ Slusher, Keenan (May 1, 2023). "Kraken beat Avalanche 2–1, eliminate defending Stanley Cup champions". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
- ^ Myers, Tracey (May 16, 2023). "Kraken eliminated from playoffs after playing from behind too often". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
- ^ "Jim Montgomery Wins 2023 Jack Adams Award". National Hockey League. June 27, 2023. Archived from the original on April 21, 2024. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
- ^ "2023–24 Seattle Kraken Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts". Hockey-Reference. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
- ^ Clark, Ryan S. (April 29, 2024). "Kraken fire coach Dave Hakstol after missing playoffs". ESPN. Archived from the original on June 11, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
- ^ "Bylsma hired as coach of Kraken, replaces Hakstol". National Hockey League. May 28, 2024. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ "Dave Hakstol Hockey Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference. Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ "Dan Bylsma Hockey Coaching Record". Hockey-Reference. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2024.