Dan Bylsma Returns to NHL Coaching with Seattle Kraken

SEATTLE — Dan Bylsma is feeling rejuvenated as he steps into his latest role, preparing for his first season with the Seattle Kraken. The 54-year-old was appointed as the team’s second head coach on May 28, 2024, succeeding Dave Hakstol. “I’m super-excited, I’m super-energized,” Bylsma stated during an interview. “Obviously, I haven’t been a head coach in the National Hockey League for whatever number of years it is.”

Bylsma most recently served as the head coach for Coachella Valley, the Kraken’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, for two seasons. His return to the NHL as a head coach comes after his last role with the Buffalo Sabres during the 2016-2017 season. Bylsma’s initial NHL tenure was marked by success with the Pittsburgh Penguins, clinching the Stanley Cup in 2009. Over his ongoing career, he has accumulated a regular-season record of 320-190-55 and a 43-35 standing in postseason play.

The Seattle Kraken, in their efforts to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs, hired Bylsma after the team missed the playoffs last season, leading to the decision to part ways with Hakstol. The Kraken had previously made history by reaching the playoffs in their second season but were eliminated by the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Second Round.

Dan Bylsma’s return is also accompanied by new developments in the Kraken coaching staff, notably the inclusion of Jessica Campbell, who becomes the first woman to serve as a full-time assistant coach in the NHL. The appointment signifies the organization’s commitment to diversity and breaking new ground in professional sports.

In discussing his return to an NHL head coach position, Bylsma conveyed how his recent experiences have revitalized his passion for coaching. “The last two years have been super energizing for me. I’ve enjoyed it thoroughly,” he said. “I wanted to be a head coach again somewhere, somehow before my career’s over.”

As Bylsma rejoins the NHL landscape, he brings with him familiarity with several Kraken players from his time in Coachella Valley, such as Shane Wright and Tye Kartye, aiding in his transition back to coaching at the highest level. “I’m grateful for the familiarity,” Bylsma noted, emphasizing the benefit of already understanding the capability and character of many team members.

His recent journey through the AHL has been significant not just for his own career but for his players and the franchise as a whole, with Coachella Valley reaching the Calder Cup Final in each of his two seasons. Looking ahead to the season opener against the St. Louis Blues on October 8, Bylsma is eager to see his team back on the ice, saying, “It’s really refreshing and energizing for me with what we can do as a team going forward.”