Oct. 12—GRAND FORKS — Dave Hakstol is in discussions to become Arizona State's next head hockey coach.
Hakstol, currently an assistant coach for the Colorado Avalanche, has been granted permission to speak with the Sun Devils about their opening.
Arizona State has informed other candidates that they're out of the running.
Hakstol is currently with the Avalanche in Dallas. He was on the ice for practice Monday morning.
Arizona State has been searching for an interim coach to fill in for Greg Powers, who was put on paid administrative leave on Sept. 30 as the school probes a workout that left defenseman Matthew Mayich on life support.
It's unclear whether Arizona State will offer a full-time job or an interim role.
An Arizona State spokesperson said last week that the interim coach will pick his own staff.
Arizona State plays at UMass Lowell this weekend.
The Sun Devils are 2-2, splitting with Lindenwood and Holy Cross to start the season with Mike Corbett serving as the acting head coach.
Hakstol served as UND's head coach from 2004-15, leading the Fighting Hawks to seven NCAA Frozen Fours in 11 seasons.
He left to become the head coach of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers in 2015 and has been in the NHL since then. He also served as head coach of the Seattle Kraken and held assistant coaching roles with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Avalanche.
Hakstol was a Jack Adams Award finalist as the NHL's Coach of the Year when he was with Seattle, leading the second-year franchise to within a game of the Western Conference Final.