The Kraken announced today via social media and their own website that they would be promoting Coachella Valley Firebirds coach Dan Bylsma to head coach of the Seattle Kraken; the 2nd in franchise history!
Bylsma has been working for the organization since 2021; as a coach for the Charlotte Checkers whilst the organization put together the founding season of the Firebirds. As CV’s head coach, he brought them to the AHL Calder Cup finals in their inaugural year, and was well in the process of doing so again this year as they gear up to take on Milwaukee in the Western Conference Finals. Previously he had been known for his Stanley Cup victory with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and posting a 252-117-32 in his time there, which got him a spot as Team USA’s coach at the Olympics, as well as a rough pair of years as the bench boss of the Buffalo Sabres; where they failed to make the playoffs in both years and he was summarily let go; though I’d personally put the onus of that on the Sabres themselves because jeezus the 2010s Sabres were a mess.
Bylsma is in a unique position as Head coach of the Kraken; a number of his former players in Coachella are expected to make the jump from the AHL to the NHL this year, has a number of vets from his first year in Palm Desert throughout, and inherits a team that, while defensively sound, struggled with shooting nearly all year to their detriment. It will be up to him to hopefully drum up a little bit of that offensive acumen that he brought to the Firebirds and translate it back into the big boy club.
As for the Firebirds? It’s likely one of Jessica Campbell or Stu Bickell will end up the interim head coach through this playoff race, and boy wouldn’t that be exciting?
So! Let’s all give Disco Dan Bylsma a big hearty welcome to The Deep!
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