DENVER, CO – In a strategic move aimed at injecting seasoned expertise into their bench, the Colorado Avalanche have officially announced the hiring of Dave Hakstol as an assistant coach. The former head coach of the Seattle Kraken joins Jared Bednar`s staff with a clear mandate: sharpen the team`s special teams, particularly a power play unit that appeared surprisingly blunt during their recent playoff exit.
Hakstol, 56, brings a considerable coaching resume to Denver. Most recently, he guided the Seattle Kraken from their inaugural season in 2021 through 2024, famously leading the expansion franchise to a playoff berth in 2023. In a twist of fate, that Kraken squad eliminated the very team he now joins, defeating the Avalanche in a seven-game first-round series. His tenure in Seattle concluded with a record of 107-112-27.
Before his time in the Pacific Northwest, Hakstol spent parts of four seasons as the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, where he posted a 134-101-42 record. His path to the NHL included a highly successful 11-season stint as head coach at the University of North Dakota, guiding the collegiate program to seven appearances in the NCAA Frozen Four championship.
The timing of Hakstol`s arrival strongly suggests a response to Colorado`s postseason performance. The Avalanche`s vaunted power play, featuring offensive dynamos like Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, converted on just 3 of 22 opportunities (13.6%) during their seven-game series loss to the Dallas Stars. Compounding the issue, the team allowed seven goals while short-handed. Following the season, the Avalanche parted ways with assistant coach Ray Bennett, who had overseen the power play.
This statistical deficiency in critical moments has seemingly prompted the Avalanche to seek a specialist with a proven track record and deep tactical understanding. Hakstol`s experience, including his time coaching key Avalanche players MacKinnon (Team Canada, 2017 IIHF Worlds) and goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (Team Canada, 2019 IIHF Worlds) internationally, adds another layer of potential synergy.
“Dave brings a wealth of knowledge and experience behind the bench and will be a great fit on Jared’s staff,” Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland stated. “He has an extensive coaching background with a lot of success and will be a valuable addition to our team.”
Hakstol himself expressed enthusiasm for joining the organization.
“This is a proud organization with a lot of talented players,” Hakstol commented. “I look forward to being a part of this special group and can’t wait to get to work and help the team in any way that I can.”
Joining a staff that includes Nolan Pratt, goaltending coach Jussi Parkkila, and assistant/video coach Brett Heimlich under head coach Jared Bednar, Hakstol is expected to contribute significantly to strategizing and implementation, particularly concerning the power play and potentially overall team structure. The hire signals the Avalanche`s commitment to addressing specific areas of weakness and leveraging experienced minds in their pursuit of championship contention.
