Next Kraken Coach Must Instill 'Passion,' Says NHL Network Reporter

Lottery ping-pong balls didn't bounce in the Seattle Kraken's favor at the NHL's Draft Lottery on Tuesday.

In fact, no team changed position. The San Jose Sharks, with the league's worst record, will pick 1st overall. That gives them the right to choose consensus best eligible Macklin Celebrini, a center from Boston University.

The Kraken, which had a 1-in-16 chance of moving up to the 1st round's top pick, instead will stay with the number 8 selection at the June NHL Draft in Las Vegas.

The 1st Round draft order among non-playoff teams:

1. San Jose
2. Chicago
3. Anaheim
4. Columbus
5. Montreal
6. Utah
7. Ottawa
8. Seattle
9. Calgary
10. New Jersey
11. Buffalo
12. Philadelphia
13. Minnesota
14. San Jose (from Pittsburgh)
15. Detroit
16. St. Louis

Checklist For Hakstol's Replacement

Qualities needed for the next Seattle Kraken coach should include an up-tempo style and ability to relate to prospects.

“They did not play an especially entertaining brand of hockey,” NHL Network reporter Jon Morosi said in a KIRO-AM interview.

"You need to play with some passion and find a way to reach your young players and get them taking the next step. How do I get the best out of Beniers?

"How do I get the best out of the core to make them a little bit more mobile and an exciting, puck-supporting group? Those are all things that I want to hear from in my new head coach.”

One Surprised, One Not Surprised

Dan Rosen and Shawn P. Roarke debated the Seattle coaching change on their NHL@The Rink podcast .

Roarke: It didn't surprise me. They were wildly inconsistent, somewhat rudderless. A lot of players took a step back. They had career years last year and that's why they made the playoffs.

There's just an impatience in the market. There's a lot of good coaches out there. The thought process was, "Let's get in line early and see what happens." I just think (Kraken GM) Ron (Francis) is looking for a more dynamic coach.

Rosen: It surprised me. Dave Hakstol can blame the Vegas Golden Knights for this. They did better than Seattle did in year two, and they did it in year one, going to the Stanley Cup Final.

He was given a team that was an expansion team and acted like one. They didn't build on their career years, but maybe they're never going to build on those years. (Hakstol didn't) have an outstanding player, he doesn't have a game-breaker.

That's a bit of a roster-build (issue), and the coach takes the hit. I thought a 100-point season and a playoff win would not only buy him this season, but at least the start of next season, too.