Core Concepts: Who's Talking on Kraken Bench

Core Concepts is a new and ongoing feature to explore hockey's fundamentals. The game is hyper-fast on the ice. Core Concepts will slow it down to take a deeper look for everyone ranging from newbies to long-time fans.

When the Kraken fell behind 1-0 in Thursday's victory over the Minnesota Wild, the veterans on the Seattle bench were talking the most. They were exhorting teammates to get it going, that Minnesota is spending too much time in our zone, play our systems, keep it simple.
"We tweaked a couple things," coach Dave Hakstol said about taking advantage of a timeout for on-ice officials to review and uphold a call of "no goal," disallowing what would have been the Wild's second goal of the night. "We've got a veteran group [talking to teammates]. We just got going."
Hockey is a fast game with thousands of split-second decisions made by players every game. When players come off the ice after an average of 40- to 50-second shifts, they take time to both catch their breath and discuss what just happened with players and coaches.
"It's always a good sign when linemates [a set of three forwards] are talking to each other on the bench," Hakstol said after practice at Climate Pledge Arena earlier in the week. "Following a shift, they talk about what they can do better."

Defensive pairs are sitting next to each other and talking, too. In the recent wins on a homestand that continues Sunday against the New York Rangers, it was common to see veteran Adam Larsson talking with Jeremy Lauzon, who played with standout D-man Charlie McAvoy last season in Boston.
"I'm in the same role here, playing against top lines," Lauzon said earlier in the week. "It's one way I can help the team. Adam is giving me cues."
Hakstol and his two assistant coaches with him on the bench, Paul McFarland and Jay Leach, are "in constant communication with each other on the bench." They typically discuss a specific play [successful or not] that just occurred and - no surprise to Kraken fans following the team closely - discussing whether the coaches' offensive and defensive systems are working effectively.
Considering how loud it can get (especially at Climate Pledge Arena) and that next shifts are happening rapid-fire, it seems like a challenge for the coaches to be communicating along with watching play. Talking without looking each other in the eyes is a helpful technique.
"Everything is moving fast but it is essential during each period to talk about the flow of play," Hakstol said. "A lot of things are happening on the ice."
Hakstol said, "our job as coaches is to help players be at their best every shift," making it clear that watching a video or course-correcting a defensive pair or line can't wait until intermission.

McFarland is focused on the forward lines and power-play units, while Leach is responsible for defensive pairings and penalty kill groupings.
Hakstol connects to both of his assistants, frequently talking about matchups against opposing lines. The trio (either in pairs or all three) talk on the fly but definitely take advantage of stop-time during the three scheduled TV timeouts that sync up with the ice crew tidying up the ice.
Hakstol said some players use iPads available on the bench while others do not. There are also TV monitors on the bench floors at Climate Pledge Arena to allow players in-period closer views of replays.
"Some guys want to see all of their shifts [on the iPads] and others don't want to see it at all [during the period]," said Hakstol, noting the variance is not age or tech-savvy related.
Hakstol said he and his fellow coaches always aim to be succinct with their on-bench feedback: "We deliver simple, clear messages. Players appreciate that."