The Seattle Kraken have officially named their replacement for former head coach Dave Hakstol. Dan Bylsma, who led the Pittsburgh Penguins to a Stanley Cup in 2009, will take over behind the Kraken bench.
Bylsma has spent the last two seasons as the head coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Kraken’s AHL affiliate. In 2023-24, Bylsma coached the Firebirds to a mark of 46-15-6, and they are currently in the Western Conference Finals of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Bylsma got his start as an NHL head coach when he took over for Michel Therrien midway through the 2008-09 season, and he guided the Penguins to their first Stanley Cup in 17 years. Bylsma spent five more seasons in Pittsburgh, and he got the team to the Eastern Conference Final again in 2013, but the Penguins were swept by the Boston Bruins.
In 2014, the Penguins fired Bylsma, and he became the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres one year later. Bylsma only spent two seasons with the Sabres, never winning more than 35 games in a single season, and he was fired in 2017. Between his stints with the Penguins and Sabres, Bylsma has compiled an overall record of 320-190-55.
Starting with Mike Babcock resigning from the Columbus Blue Jackets last September, there have been 12 NHL coaching changes in 2023-24, and several of those teams still need to figure out who will be behind the bench for the 2024-25 season.
Three teams fired their head coaches in the middle of the season and immediately appointed a new full-time bench boss. The Edmonton Oilers made the switch from Jay Woodcroft to Kris Knoblauch, the Minnesota Wild replaced Dean Evason with John Hynes and the New York Islanders hired Patrick Roy on the heels of firing Lane Lambert.
Keep track of every NHL coaching carousel hiring and firing below.
The NHL coaching carousel has been in full swing this offseason, with several teams making changes to their coaching staff. One of the most notable moves came when the Seattle Kraken announced that they had hired former Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma to join their coaching staff.
Bylsma, who previously led the Penguins to a Stanley Cup championship in 2009, brings a wealth of experience and success to the Kraken organization. During his time in Pittsburgh, Bylsma compiled a record of 252-117-32 and won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach in 2011.
After leaving the Penguins in 2014, Bylsma went on to coach the Buffalo Sabres for two seasons before joining the Detroit Red Wings as an assistant coach. Now, he will have the opportunity to help build a new franchise from the ground up with the Kraken.
Bylsma’s hiring is seen as a smart move by many in the hockey world, as he has a proven track record of success and is known for his ability to develop young talent. With the Kraken set to begin play in the 2021-22 season, having a coach like Bylsma on board could be crucial to their early success.
In addition to Bylsma, the Kraken also announced the hiring of Jay Leach as an assistant coach. Leach, who previously served as head coach of the Providence Bruins in the AHL, brings a strong background in player development and coaching to the Kraken staff.
Overall, the addition of Bylsma and Leach to the Seattle Kraken coaching staff is a positive step for the expansion team as they prepare to make their debut in the NHL. With their experience and expertise, Bylsma and Leach will play a key role in shaping the future of the franchise and helping to build a winning culture in Seattle.
