Kraken Fortify Front Office, Coaching Staff with Pair of Hirings

Much has been made about the Seattle Kraken hiring Sportsology Group to do an audit of the organization this offseason. Clearly, there is an effort to find and fix gaps in development and talent, from the brass at the top all the way down to the bench on the ice.

While general manager Jason Botterill and head coach Lane Lambert remain in place, there has been some shakeup around both men in the Kraken organization. First, Ron Francis stepped down as team president immediately after the regular season concluded. Jessica Campbell left the bench to seek other opportunities after her contract to coach with the Kraken had expired as well.

Over the last week, the Kraken made two hires to seemingly fortify their front office and coaching staff. Patrik Allvin was recently named as a fourth vice president and assistant general manager. Additionally, Pascal Vincent joined Lambert’s coaching staff.

Allvin and Botterill have a long history together from their decade in Pittsburgh. The Penguins won three Stanley Cups between 2009 and 2017 while they worked in the organization. Certainly, the Kraken could use more minds in the building with Staney Cup rings on their fingers. Allvin was recently fired from being the general manager of the Vancouver Canucks after four seasons. The Kraken swooped in quickly to hire him.

Now, with Allvin reuniting with Botterill, the Kraken have a handful of people in the organization with either former general manager or assistant GM backgrounds at other NHL stops.

Vincent seems to be the hire to replace the departed Jessica Campbell on the bench. He has been a coach in some capacity in pro hockey for 15 years. From 2016 to 2021, he was the head coach of the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets. Ahead of the 2023-2024 season, he was named head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, he was fired after just one season.

Vincent continued to have success coaching in the AHL ranks, capturing the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the head coach of the Canadiens’ affiliate. From that successful role, Vincent was hired by Seattle last week. The Quebec native joins a coaching staff in search of finding a new level of hockey in Seattle.

These hires signal the Kraken's intent to bolster scouting, talent evaluation, and on-ice development amid a push for sustained contention. At this point in the Kraken organization’s history, the more coaches and front office minds they can get in the building, the better. They have yet to find their winning formula. Perhaps this is a step in the right direction. Their first big task is nailing next week’s NHL Draft.