The National Hockey League (NHL) has recently announced that Dave Hakstol of the Seattle Kraken has been named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, which is given annually to the NHL’s coach of the year. This is a huge honor for Hakstol, who is just in his first season as head coach of the Kraken.
Hakstol has had a long and successful career in the NHL, having previously coached the Philadelphia Flyers from 2015-2018. During his time with the Flyers, Hakstol led the team to two playoff appearances and was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award in 2016.
This season, Hakstol has continued his success with the Kraken. Despite being an expansion team, the Kraken have been one of the most successful teams in the NHL, finishing with a record of 37-14-2 and earning the second seed in the West Division. Hakstol has been credited with helping to build a winning culture in Seattle, and his players have praised him for his leadership and guidance.
Hakstol is up against some stiff competition for the Jack Adams Award, as he is joined by Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper and Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar as finalists. The winner will be announced at the 2021 NHL Awards on June 16th.
Regardless of who wins, it is clear that Dave Hakstol has had an incredible season with the Kraken and deserves recognition for his hard work and dedication. He has helped to establish a winning culture in Seattle and has proven himself to be one of the top coaches in the NHL. It will be exciting to see who takes home the Jack Adams Award this year, but one thing is certain: Dave Hakstol has had an amazing season and deserves to be recognized for it.
