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NHL insider Elliotte Friedman believes Seattle Sonics' rumored return to city could've played role in Dan Bylsma hiring
The Seattle Kraken officially promoted Dan Bylsma to be the second head coach in their franchise history. He comes up from their AHL affiliate to run the program from the top.
After just three seasons, Dave Hakstol has been replaced. As for why that happened, one NHL insider believes basketball might have played a role. The team might not have felt that they had time to let Hakstol grow since the Seattle SuperSonics might one day return to the area.
Elliotte Friedman said via My Northwest:
“I mean, I’ve heard all the rumors that the Sonics might be coming back, and I think the Kraken want to make sure they’re in a really good place for when or if the Sonics do arrive, so I think all of that played into it.
"So I think what this is is it’s a message that the hockey team better take some steps before that occurs, and I think that as much as anything else played a role in the coaching change.”
Hakstol signed an extension just a couple of years ago, which hadn't even officially kicked in. But in the third year of his tenure, the Kraken regressed and finished 34-35-13. That prompted ownership to move on.
NHL insider addresses surprise Dan Bylsma move
Dan Bylsma is the new coach of the Seattle Kraken, a move that came as a surprise given David Hakstol's standing with the team and his contract. Elliotte Friedman doesn't believe Ron Francis truly wanted to make the move.
“I think he’s a very patient guy. I think this is a little quick for him. To me, one of the biggest things that’s happened in Seattle for hockey is that they want this team to get going a bit further than it has so far. And you guys had the great run last year, I thought it would buy Hakstol more time, he got an extension."
However, as the Kraken moved slightly backward this last season, Friedman thinks that did Hakstol in. He didn't blame him for the regression but believed the franchise desired to get better quickly and moved on to Bylsma.
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