HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Thoughts on Seattle hiring Dave Hakstol as head coach?

It's the most Ron Francis hire imaginable.

Just an off-brand coach that makes you go "Him? Yeah, alright I guess." Barely even notable.

oh, i hate it.

why??? he has no jam

This is one of the things Meltzer had to say about Hakstol in his post today:

"I thought he was an average NHL head coach while he was here, with a chance to become an above-average one as he gained experience coaching at the game's top level."

I thought so too, and most coaches in Philly would have had a similar level of success. Look at Vigneault since: in the playoffs, out of the playoffs, just like Hakstol.

I have to assume Ron Francis shares Meltzer's opinion about Hakstol being an above-average coach as he gains experience. This will be his first real chance at the NHL level to set the terms and the culture from day 1. How this goes will tell us more about Hakstol than his time in Philly and Toronto did.

Were there above average coaches available this off-season? I think yes.

But many people will think rather lowly of my opinion because I thought Tortorella would be a good hire

There were better coaches, more proven, available. They definitely went off the board. This is a real dissapointing hire. Francis had a chance here to set the tone and table as to this franchise’s legitimacy coming out of the gates. He completely dropped the ball. Its not even a safe pick.
🤮

Looks like Seattle is going to try and build through the draft unlike Vegas.

It's the most Ron Francis hire imaginable.

Just an off-brand coach that makes you go "Him? Yeah, alright I guess." Barely even notable.
- BINGO!

YUP!

I don't get how you can justify this over Bruce B. or Gerard G. Especially Gallant who has actual recent expansion team experience and great success with them. Honestly, I don't know how much real value that has but it seems a lot better then what Hak is bringing to the table.

All I can think is that Seattle is not looking to make an immediate splash like Vegas did.

Hakstol was a good coach at the college level.
He was a pretty decent assistant coach.
He was an absolutely terrible head coach in Philadelphia. Absolutely terrible. His personnel decisions, time management, adaptability on the fly and overall game planning were complete crap.

Seattle is going to suck while he is at the helm.

I never thought Hakstol was a good game day coach. He rarely changed his lines during the course of a game to take advantage of better matchups or a hot player. He routinely came up short on the line matchups even at home. He would bench young players for poor play but veterans were immune to any obvious discipline. The man is a virtual mannequin behind the bench. Players primary complaint seemed to be lack of direct communication.

In his defense Hakstol was never allowed to hire any of his own assistant coaches. That was all controlled by Hextall who inserted Gord Murphy into the locker room to be his eyes and ears (ie spy). This would undercut any coaches authority. The fact that Hak put up with it for 4 years also says something about the man.

As much as I see this as a weak hire I think it says more about those that hired him. Good luck Kraken fans. You are going to need it.

How bout this......no one has any idea wtf they are talking about when it comes to Hackstol. You have no idea if he is good with players off the ice or whether or not he is a good game coach. Simply say, I'm surprised by the hire, but have no clue as to whether he will be a good coach or not

Wow Todd Cordell...

Imagine that. At least have Eklund remove your name from the Flames blogger list.

Where are those Hater Canuck now Krak fans to celebrate the hire? This is priceless they complained that Green was hired without interview process. Now Krak after extensive one pass on the favorites they wanted and get someone worse then Green.

All I can think is that Seattle is not looking to make an immediate splash like Vegas did.

Hakstol was a good coach at the college level.
He was a pretty decent assistant coach.
He was an absolutely terrible head coach in Philadelphia. Absolutely terrible. His personnel decisions, time management, adaptability on the fly and overall game planning were complete crap.

Seattle is going to suck while he is at the helm.
- Nh_kong

That is completely not accurate in looking at Hakstol's tenure in Philly. Hakstol got more out of weak roster in a few seasons than Vigenault got last year. He coached the team to playoff berths with basically one good line and one good defenseman pairing. He wasn't perfect and he lost the team in the final season but to say that he was absolutely terrible overall is simply hyperbole.

The teams in Philly under Hak at the very least performed average if not better. His in game choices were sometimes questioned, and I would have killed for a time out now and than to try to rally the group but not everyone is a Lavy type who has that persona. Overall he could have done better in Philly but was not the only issue, The lineups he had to work with on top of being micro-managed didn't help at all I wish him the absolute best and look forward to seeing what Francis can extort from teams to take or not take players. With that in mind I would have had a good half dozen people more likely to be taken over him as did most everyone else

It's been a few years now so maybe my memory isn't as fresh as it should be, but wasn't there a lot more chatter about the coming expansion draft from McPhee and Vegas management about side deals, acquisitions, and the drafts (expansion and amateur)? Seattle has been quite the opposite. You get the feeling that in their coach choice that they're not looking to make a big splash out of the gate. Look for a 3-4 year build I think.

Thanks Todd,
Was really looking forward to your 5 things to watch for format. Little disappointed.

Where are those Hater Canuck now Krak fans to celebrate the hire? This is priceless they complained that Green was hired without interview process. Now Krak after extensive one pass on the favorites they wanted and get someone worse then Green.
- NuckUp

Can you post that all Euro line for the Canucks again?

He’s a bum!

Totally disagree with MJL, Hakstol was useless as nipples on a bull. I advocated his firing a year and a half before it happened. No respect from players, referees and in general most fans. He is dead wood behind the bench and he did a real bad job in Philly. Hextall continued to support him and it cost both of them their jobs. You could have done much better Kraken!

That is completely not accurate in looking at Hakstol's tenure in Philly. Hakstol got more out of weak roster in a few seasons than Vigenault got last year. He coached the team to playoff berths with basically one good line and one good defenseman pairing. He wasn't perfect and he lost the team in the final season but to say that he was absolutely terrible overall is simply hyperbole.
- MJL

MJL you may think you know everything about everything but your nothing but a puppet. Whatever garbage the Flyers management states you believe everything to be true. By the way how is Morgan Frost coming along? The Schenn trade was a rape in the Blues favour no matter how you slice it. All I can say good for Brayden to escape the gong show in Philly.

MJL you may think you know everything about everything but your nothing but a puppet. Whatever garbage the Flyers management states you believe everything to be true. By the way how is Morgan Frost coming along? The Schenn trade was a rape in the Blues favour no matter how you slice it. All I can say good for Brayden to escape the gong show in Philly.
- joegreif17

they got Farabee in that deal, too. Kid just had a real nice season.

When you’re rebuilding and someone offers you two firsts for a streaky player on the back 9 of his career who wouldn’t last to see the end of your transition, you take it.