Seattle Kraken Strengthen Coaching Staff with New Hires

The Seattle Kraken have made significant moves to bolster their coaching staff, announcing on Thursday the hiring of Pascal Vincent as assistant coach and Patrik Allvin as vice president and assistant general manager. The additions come as the Kraken look to rebound from a disappointing season that saw them finish 27th out of 32 teams, missing the playoffs entirely.

Patrik Allvin arrives in Seattle after a four-year tenure as general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, where he made history as the NHL’s first Swedish GM. At 51, Allvin expressed his enthusiasm about joining the Kraken organization, stating, “I am grateful for this opportunity and excited to join the Seattle Kraken organization. There is a strong commitment to building a winning team and a passionate fan base, and I look forward to collaborating with (GM) Jason (Botterill) and the hockey operations staff as we continue building a club capable of sustained success.”

Allvin’s connection with Kraken general manager Jason Botterill runs deep; the two spent a decade together in Pittsburgh, where they celebrated three Stanley Cup victories. Botterill highlighted Allvin’s strengths in a statement, emphasizing his communication skills and understanding of team dynamics. “Patrik is an excellent communicator in a team environment,” Botterill remarked. “He understands the importance of structure and a process in making decisions. You look at his experience evaluating talent in North America, Europe, amateur, pro, he’s had a lot of different titles over his career. He had success in Pittsburgh, winning three Stanley Cups, being a part of a group there [which included Botterill].”

Joining Allvin on the coaching staff is Pascal Vincent, who comes to Seattle from the Laval Rocket, the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens. Canadiens President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton acknowledged Vincent’s contributions to the Rocket, stating, “We would like to sincerely thank Pascal for his work and contribution to the Rocket and wish him all the best in his next professional chapter in Seattle. He was highly committed to our success and made valuable contributions over the past several years.” Vincent’s reputation is well-earned, having served in various roles across several NHL and AHL teams over the years, including stints as an assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets and Columbus Blue Jackets. He was recently promoted to head coach for the Blue Jackets before making the move to Seattle.

Allvin shared his impressions of the Kraken’s facilities and fan support, noting, “The practice facility is phenomenal, best in the league. The support of the Kraken in the city and region was evident every time I’ve been down there for games. As a visiting team, you can feel the fans’ energy and feel the identity of the team playing fast hockey.” With these new hires, the Kraken are clearly aiming to create a strong foundation for future success.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.