Two years down the line, Seattle Kraken fans will know who Ron Francis picked as the team's head coach back in 2024 and whether that choice paid off. But right now, there's a narrative swirling in the media about Francis' future: he's got one shot to select a replacement for Dave Hakstol.
If that new coach doesn't meet ownership's expectations, Francis could be next in line for the chopping block. This begs a bigger question: Just how many coaching changes do NHL owners tolerate from their general managers?
We dug into the data, examining all current NHL GMs who've been with their clubs for at least five years. We tallied up how many coaches they've brought in and let go, taking note if any inherited coaches were axed. Out of the 13 GMs who've been in their roles since at least 2019, Francis is one of them, although he's only had three seasons with the Kraken.
Two GMs have never had to fire a coach: Don Waddell in Carolina and Julien BriseBois in Tampa Bay. Steve Yzerman in Detroit has also only let go of one coach. On the flip side, Jim Nill of the Stars has parted ways with five coaches, while Doug Armstrong of the Blues has bid adieu to four. Five other GMs have seen three coaching changes each.
So, will Ron Francis find himself grappling with yet another coaching switch for the Kraken? And if so, will ownership stand behind his decision? Only time will tell, but we'll be sure to catch up with those 2026 Kraken fans for their take.
