BY NATE MOSER
The Seattle Kraken have their next bench boss. The team announced that they are promoting Dan Bylsma to be the second head coach in franchise history. He replaces Dave Hakstol, who had been with the team since their inception and helped take them to the 2023 playoffs and even win a series against the Colorado Avalanche. Bylsma, meanwhile, was coaching down in Seattle’s American Hockey League (AHL) team, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, ever since the team started play in the 2022-23 season. He had a record of 94-32-18 in the two campaigns he was with the team. Bylsma is most remembered as the head coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He took over for former coach Michel Therrien when he was fired midway through the 2008-09 season. The Penguins turned things around and beat the Detroit Red Wings to hoist the Stanley Cup at the end of the 2009 playoffs. He would coach in Pittsburgh for a few more seasons before he was let go following the 2013-14 campaign.
Bylsma last coached in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. It was a new era for the Sabres, as they recently drafted Jack Eichel at the time second overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, as well as acquired forward Ryan O’Reilly in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. The results did not come however, and Buffalo missed the playoffs both times that Bylsma was there, before he and then-Sabres general manager Tim Murray were relieved of their duties with the club. It was the only two times in the NHL that Bylsma missed the postseason as a head coach, as he made it every season he was with the Penguins. In fact, the last season he was in Pittsburgh, the Penguins won the Metropolitan Division and even won in the first round. They were eliminated at the hands of the New York Rangers in the second round.
This hire is a win not only for the Kraken, but for players on the Firebirds as well. Already having a prior relationship with Bylsma will do wonders for those trying to crack the NHL lineup, either out of training camp or at some point during the season as a call-up. Some of the top talent who have been with the Firebirds within the last couple seasons include Max McCormick, Kole Lind, Shane Wright, Andrew Poturalski, and Cale Fleury among others. It is a good mix of future NHLers and veterans who could fill temporary holes on the Kraken with injuries. Bylsma will know who the team should call up, and how to utilize those players to the best of their abilities. The Kraken could very well have a nice turnaround considering all of the talent they already have as well. These were the top five scorers for Seattle in 2023-24:
- Forward (F) Jared McCann: 29 goals and 33 assists for 62 points in 80 games
- (F) Oliver Bjorkstrand: 20 goals and 39 assists for 59 points in 82 games
- Defenseman (D) Vince Dunn: 11 goals and 35 assists for 46 points in 59 games
- (F) Jordan Eberle: 17 goals and 27 assists for 44 points in 78 games
- (F) Eeli Tolvanen: 16 goals and 25 assists for 41 points in 81 games
That does not even include players like Matty Beniers, Jaden Schwartz, Andre Burakovsky, and Will Borgen. Bylsma has a lot to work with on the Kraken. Soon, the general manager Ron Francis will be able to add more to the roster when free agency begins on July 1 too, as well as make any trades in the offseason. There should not be much to tweak with the roster though. As for the team with Bylsma, there will be an adjustment period as there usually is with any coach going to a new team. It should not be long though before the positive results start to show. Bylsma and the Kraken have the potential to be a very rewarding pairing for Seattle and the team’s fanbase.
The Sports Insanity Network 