With Dave Hakstol fired, there's a rumour that Seattle Kraken GM Ron Francis will be targeting Carolina's Rod Brind'Amour as the new head coach of the Seattle Kraken
The Seattle Kraken made a big move today, firing the first head coach in the franchise's history. Dave Hakstol had been behind the bench for three seasons, but was shown the door after going 34-35-0, and missing the postseason.
"#SeaKraken announce they've fired coach Dave Hakstol after three seasons as the team's inaugural head coach.
Seattle Kraken General Manager Ron Francis has not named Hakstol's immediate replacement, with a release from the club saying the start for a new head coach would begin immediately. One person believes his main target is a coach currently still going in the playoffs.
Jordan Schmaltz, a former NHLer who calls himself "The People's Insider," says Francis will be pushing hard for Rod Brind'Amour, who is currently in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs with the Carolina Hurricanes.
"Certainly surprising to the outside for sure. But here's the thing Ronny Franchise Francis is going to make a helluva effort to bring in his boy Rod The Bod who is coaching #CauseChaos on an expiring deal currently with no contract extension in place. My guess Seattle throws the bag💰 at Brind'Amour at a number // term Carolina owner Thomas Dundon isn't comfortable matching. Something to keep an eye on.. 👀👀"
Brind'Amour and Francis have long histories with the Carolina Hurricanes as both players and in the front office, with Francis as an executive and Brind'Amour as an assistant coach first, and then the head coach. It's certainly a perfect fit.
As for offering Brind'Amour a deal that Canes owner Tom Dundon wouldn't match, the last time someone played that game, they lost. That was former Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin, who filed an offer sheet on Sebastian Aho that was front-loaded in the hopes Carolina wouldn't want to match it. Aho remained with the Hurricanes, and Dundon and GM Don Waddell decided to target Canadiens RFA Jesperi Kotkaniemi down the road. Kotkaniemi is participating in this year's postseason with the Carolina Hurricanes.
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