Kraken Coach Hakstol Knew This Team Was Special

Following the Seattle Kraken's elimination from the playoffs Monday, coach Dave Hakstol reflected on his squad's eight month journey. He started by discussing the team's Game 7 loss to Dallas, then rewound all the way back to training camp in September, 2022.

Here are coach Hakstol's thoughts, in his own words.

"In reality, as you look back on the game, it was (Dallas') play. They checked well. They played with great pace. They managed the puck a little bit better than we did. The speed and the crispness and the sharpness of what we were doing with the puck wasn't quite good enough to generate any type of pace offensively.

"Too often, we didn't have a lot of gas left in the tank by the time we got to the offensive zone. Especially as you look at the second period, countless times where we had broken combinations of lines out there because we were halfway through line changes. So now you're changing tired and you're trying to start your shift tired and with half your line. That's a credit to them."

"You look at the pain of the veteran guys in that room. One of the things that they have an understanding of, when you've got guys that have won Cups and you've got guys that have been on playoff runs before, they understand how difficult it is - not only to get into the playoffs, but even to get to this point.

"One win away from an opportunity to be one of the final four teams playing. So you see that pain in guys, especially in the veteran guys that really understand how hard it is to get here.

"For the young guys, Matty and a couple of the young guys on our roster, that realization is there as well. But you also see the growth in those guys, and the importance of the experience that they just went through."

"You got a pretty clear perspective of this group of guys, and the type of team and teammates that they are.

"I had kind of a feeling about this group, really back in training camp. There was a different feel to it. You knew there was something there. Had no idea exactly how or when we'd be able to come together as a group, but absolutely, did we grow over the last month? 100%."

"They're a huge part of it. I made the comment after Game 6. (a 6-3 home Kraken victory over Dallas in an elimination game.) I haven't been in the league forever, but I've been around for a while now. That's the best playoff atmosphere that I've experienced.

"So tremendous, right from the start of the year. They showed up. They were there coming off a tough first year, and they helped us build and grow throughout the year."

"This group changed the landscape of hockey in Seattle.

"This particular group had the guts to change the culture, the trajectory, the belief of our franchise as well. That hits home with me, and at some point in time they should look at that and take a lot of pride."