Avalanche Assistant Dave Hakstol Leaves for Arizona State

The Colorado Avalanche face a coaching change that could affect their efforts to improve a struggling power play, as assistant coach Dave Hakstol is leaving the NHL organization to become head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils hockey team, according to a report published by Mile High Sticking on October 12, 2026.

Hakstol joined Colorado last season and has worked on the coaching staff since then. His departure creates uncertainty over who will manage the team's power-play unit, which has struggled to maintain consistent production despite personnel adjustments.

Colorado's power play currently operates at 22.2%, ranking between 12th and 14th in the league, with two other teams sharing the same percentage, according to the source. The unit had started strongly before its production declined, continuing a pattern of inconsistency that has challenged the Avalanche in recent seasons.

The Avalanche have attempted to address those problems by changing the composition of their top power-play unit. T.J. Hughes was added alongside Nazem Kadri, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Martin Necas, a combination that initially appeared to improve performance before the unit's effectiveness diminished.

Hakstol's exit now leaves Colorado needing to determine who will take responsibility for the special-teams group. The source identified Nolan Pratt as a possible interim option because of his proximity to the team's on-ice operations and familiarity with its play.

Pratt has won three Stanley Cups during his career, including two as a player and one as a coach with Colorado during the 2021-22 championship season. The source did not report an official appointment to replace Hakstol or confirm who will assume responsibility for the power play.

Hakstol brings extensive coaching experience to his next position. He served as head coach of the Seattle Kraken from 2021 to 2024, following earlier roles with the Sioux City Musketeers, the University of North Dakota and the Philadelphia Flyers, as well as an assistant coaching position with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

His career with North Dakota included assistant and associate coaching responsibilities, while his earlier work with the Sioux City Musketeers included a head coaching role. His most recent NHL position was with Colorado before the reported move to Arizona State.

The Avalanche's immediate challenge is to stabilize their power play while determining the coaching structure following Hakstol's departure. According to Mile High Sticking, continued struggles in that area could lead the organization to consider external coaching options if internal changes fail to produce improvements by the end of the season.