Kraken Stars Threatened to Refuse to Play for Dave Hakstol Again, per Report

Seattle dismissed the only coach it has ever known Monday.

May 9, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol speaks to the media. / Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Dave Hakstol is the only coach the Seattle Kraken has ever known, but his tenure is reportedly ending in explosive fashion.

According to a Monday report from ESPN's Emily Kaplan, Hakstol was fired after several Kraken voiced their displeasure with him in exit interviews with the organization.

"(General manager) Ron Francis did not want to make this move," Kaplan said before the Florida Panthers' 6-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 of their first-round series Monday. "I was told at the exit meetings, a handful of players—pretty significant players—made it clear to management, 'I don't want to play on this team in the future if Dave Hakstol is the coach.'"

Hakstol led the Kraken to the 2nd round of the playoffs in 2023, but several key players reportedly spoke up during their 2024 exit interviews.

via @emilymkaplan pic.twitter.com/KECKXXmJTK

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) April 30, 2024

Hakstol's dismissal came less than a calendar year after Seattle made a surprise run to the second round of the playoffs, upsetting the Colorado Avalanche in seven games in the first round before losing to the Dallas Stars in seven games.

The Kraken went 34-35-13 this season, finishing fifth in the Pacific Division.