Dave Hakstol Emerges as a Possible Candidate for Chicago Blackhawks Head Coach
This week, I’m starting a series of articles looking at potential candidates for the Chicago Blackhawks’ head coaching position. With general manager Kyle Davidson discussing the coaching search after the NHL Draft Lottery on Monday, it’s a good time to shift focus to the next key task on the team’s agenda.
In previous pieces, I’ve explored the coaching resumes of Kirk Muller and Todd Nelson. Today, let’s take a look at another name that could be in the mix.
Blackhawks Coaching Candidate: Dave Hakstol
Dave Hakstol’s candidacy for the Blackhawks job might raise some skepticism, given how his stints with the Philadelphia Flyers and Seattle Kraken ended. However, his career background and coaching experience make him an intriguing candidate worth considering.
Hakstol spent 11 years as the head coach at North Dakota, where he mentored several future NHL stars, including Jonathan Toews. His success at the NCAA level played a major role in earning him the Flyers’ head coaching job ahead of the 2015-16 season.
During his tenure in Philadelphia, Hakstol led the Flyers to the playoffs twice in three full seasons, although they were eliminated in the first round both times. After being fired 31 games into the 2018-19 season, he spent two years as an assistant coach in Toronto. In 2021, Hakstol was hired as the first-ever head coach of the Seattle Kraken. In just his second season, he led Seattle to the playoffs and advanced to the second round. However, after a disappointing 2023-24 campaign, Hakstol was let go following a failure to make the playoffs.
Not every coaching job is a perfect fit, and we’ve seen both the Flyers and Kraken make coaching changes since parting ways with Hakstol. Seattle, in particular, hired Dan Bylsma, only to move on from him after a single season.
Now, the Blackhawks’ front office will need to decide if they want to give Hakstol a third shot at an NHL head coaching position.
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