Seattle Kraken coach Dave Hakstol on the expansion draft, Vegas-sized expectations

Ron Francis and Dave Hakstol didn't know they were participating in a four-week audition.

They bonded at the 2019 IIHF world championships in Austria and Slovakia, where Francis was part of Team Canada's management brain-trust and Hakstol was a member of the men's team coaching staff.

"I got to know him as a person and watch his work ethic, building that respect for what he can do," Hakstol said.

Francis was named the first general manager for the expansion Seattle Kraken later that year. After his first NHL head coaching gig with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2015-18 -- making the leap from coaching the University of North Dakota -- Hakstol was hired as an assistant coach with the Toronto…