Report: Avalanche assistant Dave Hakstol nearing deal to become Arizona State interim head coach

Dave Hakstol, an assistant coach with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, is reportedly nearing an agreement that would make him the interim head coach of Arizona State’s men’s hockey program. The development, first reported by Yahoo Sports, suggests Colorado could be preparing for a coaching change after a short stint with Hakstol on its staff, with the timing tied to an opportunity in the NCAA.

According to the report, Hakstol was finalizing a deal to take over at Arizona State, which would end his brief tenure in Colorado unless the arrangement falls apart before it becomes official. The same report frames the situation as part of a broader period of difficulty for the Avalanche, noting that Colorado has continued to struggle on the power play. For an NHL staff, those inefficiencies can raise pressure, even when the rest of the game remains competitive.

From Arizona State’s standpoint, the interim label matters. Interim appointments in college hockey often report the school is trying to stabilize the program’s day-to-day leadership while it evaluates next steps. A coach coming from the NHL typically brings a different emphasis on pro-style structure, video preparation, and special teams attention, which can be valuable in the short window before a permanent decision is made.

The report does not provide additional confirmed details such as contract terms, start date, or whether Arizona State plans a broader staff adjustment tied to Hakstol’s arrival. It also does not specify the internal timeline at Colorado, beyond the suggestion that the assistant is close to exiting. Until the move is officially announced by either organization, the practical impact remains contingent.

For Colorado, losing an assistant who has been involved with special teams and game-planning would create an immediate need to address continuity. Even when the head coach and core systems remain intact, changes to assistants can affect how practices are run and how power-play roles are taught. That is especially relevant if the Avalanche’s power-play performance has been a recurring issue, as the report indicates.

For Arizona State, Hakstol’s arrival will likely shift expectations in the near term: improved special teams execution, clearer tactical messaging, and a tighter connection between recruiting priorities and the immediate coaching plan. What to watch next is whether Arizona State officially confirms the interim appointment and whether Colorado names a replacement quickly to preserve momentum into the later portion of the season.

If the deal is finalized, the story will also serve as a reminder of how quickly NHL assistants can be pulled into college leadership opportunities. Interim roles can be a proving ground, but they also come with constraints that permanent hires may not face, particularly around recruiting and long-term program development.