The Seattle Kraken have made a coaching decision. It’s been reported that Dan Bylsma has been hired as the second head coach in the team’s history. News of the report came on late Monday afternoon. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was one of the first to breaks news of the hiring.
Jets introduced Scott Arniel today…another coaching vacancy soon to be filled.
Hearing Dan Bylsma is the choice in Seattle
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 27, 2024
Dan Bylsma Hired by Kraken
Bylsma is former NHL head coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres. The Grand Haven, Mich. native won a Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2008-09. However, his tenure with the Sabres didn’t end so well. His combined NHL coaching record is 320-190-55 over parts of eight seasons.
The 53-year-old has made the post-season in six seasons, but hasn’t been an NHL bench boss since the 2016-17 campaign. However, he’s been doing pretty well at the AHL level.
Bylsma has been the head coach of the AHL Coachella Valley Firebirds. He led the team to the Calder Cup Final in 2022-23, but the Firebirds fell to the Hershey Bears in seven games. Coachella Valley is back in the Western Conference Final and will face the Milwaukee Admirals.
What It Means
Seattle and general manager Ron Francis fired Dave Hakstol after Seattle missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Hakstol had missed the post-season in two of his three seasons in charge.
There had been a longshot that Rod Brind’Amour would reunite with Francis. However, the Carolina Hurricanes locked their bench boss up to a multi-year deal.
Bylsma does have familiarity with some of the younger players and might be able to tap into that potential. The Firebirds have been a power in their two AHL seasons and are on the edge of reaching the Calder Cup final once again.
Seattle is hoping to find an identity and Bylsma is hoping to translate that success to the NHL level. Players like Shane Wright and other youngsters may get a chance to shine with the new regime.
Main photo by: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWOR
