Dave Hakstol is back behind an NHL bench.
The Colorado Avalanche announced on Tuesday that Hakstol was hired by the club as their new assistant coach.
Hakstol served as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs under then-head coach Sheldon Keefe during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. During his time in Toronto, Hakstol was a key part of Sheldon Keefe's coaching staff, focusing heavily on the team's defensive systems and penalty kill. His analytical approach was a significant asset as the Maple Leafs navigated those two seasons.
We have hired Dave Hakstol as Assistant Coach.
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) July 8, 2025
Welcome to Colorado, Dave! pic.twitter.com/QosruRCrOF
He departed after being hired by the Seattle Kraken as their first head coach in franchise history. It was there that Hakstol led the club to their first postseason berth in 2023 after posting a 46-28-8 record. Hakstol was also a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, handed out annually to the NHL’s top coach. However, the Kraken failed to make the playoffs in his third season with the club, and he was dismissed in the weeks that followed.
During his year away from the NHL, Hakstol served as an assistant with Team Canada at the annual Spengler Cup hockey tournament.
It’s Hakstol’s fourth stop behind an NHL bench. He made the jump to an NHL head coach when he was hired by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015. Before that, he spent the previous 15 years coaching the men’s University of North Dakota team, the last 11 as head coach. He also spent three years as a player for that college team, serving the last two as team captain.
The defensive-minded coach should be an excellent fit for an Avalanche team that is regularly in contention in the postseason. If Hakstol’s second go-around as an NHL assistant is anything like his second go-around as a head coach, he should be able to help a team improve from a defensive standpoint in a very competitive Central Division.
(Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)
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