The answer, as we dissect the smoldering ashes of a disappointing sequel, was a definitive no. With a 4-3 win over the Minnesota Wild Thursday, the Kraken wrapped a sobering third season in Seattle. They finished with a 34-35-13 record and 81 points, 19 shy of the season prior. And after producing a 10.34% shooting percentage (first in the NHL) and 3.52 goals per game (4th) in 2022-23, those numbers plummeted to 7.7% (28th) and 2.61 goals per game (27th).

Of equal concern: the Kraken went just 6-12-2 in their last 20 games, displaying erratic effort as their playoff odds evaporated.

“We’ve got to find that hunger again, that will and that drive to get back [to the playoffs],” Eberle said Saturday, during an exit interview at the Kraken Community Iceplex. “Maybe we came into the year thinking things were going to be the same and easy and we’ll just do this again, and it didn’t turn out that way. I think you’ll see a different team. We’ll come back and try to get back to that point next year.”

Different how? If this franchise is willing to do what it takes to win, changes must be made. But is ownership willing to cross-check the status quo? And what could (or should) that change look like?

We’re about to find out.

Starting, of course, with the fates of Francis and Hakstol. While it’s unlikely the Kraken exile their 61-year-old GM, Francis’ player-personnel decisions warrant scrutiny. After Seattle surprised last season on the strength of its scoring depth, that versatility vanished. Departees Daniel Sprong (18 goals and 25 assists for Detroit), Morgan Geekie (17 goals and 22 assists for Boston) and Ryan Donato (12 goals and 18 assists for Chicago) all made positive impressions elsewhere, while additions like Kailer Yamamoto (eight goals and eight assists) and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare (four goals and three assists) provided no such playmaking.

Still, it’s a coach’s job to put his players in positions to succeed. And while injuries to Dunn, Andre Burakovsky and Jaden Schwartz certainly didn’t help, it’s difficult to argue Hakstol maximized his talent.

Aside from injuries and unmerciful hockey gods, mainstays like McCann (70 points in 2022-23 to 62 in 2023-24), Beniers (57 to 37), Eberle (63 to 44), Gourde (48 to 33), Brandon Tanev (35 to 16) and Eeli Tolvanen (16 goals in 48 games last season, 16 goals in 81 games this season) all saw their statistics slip.

That comprehensive corrosion typically comes down to coaching.

After three seasons under Hakstol, the second-longest-tenured Western Conference coach, it may be time for a new voice and system in Seattle.

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