
New coach Lane Lambert says he expects to lead the Kraken to the playoffs
SEATTLE (AP) — Lane Lambert said he feels no pressure to turn the Seattle Kraken into a playoff contender.
But his own expectation is to do exactly that.
Lambert was introduced as the Kraken's coach on Monday at the team's practice facility. He was hired on May 29 after spending last season as an associate head coach with Toronto. The Maple Leafs won 52 games and the Atlantic Division title, but were eliminated in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals by Florida, which is currently playing in the Stanley Cup Final.
He will become the third head coach in the history of the Kraken, who are entering their fifth season and have made the playoffs just once in their previous four.
'I have an expectation of myself and of my role and of my abilities,' the 60-year-old Lambert said. 'You start on Day 1 and it's a process, it's a journey. If you do the right things through that journey and do the right things every day and look to get better every day and stick with the process, the results will take care of themselves.'
Lambert takes over for Dan Bylsma, who was fired on April 21 after one season. Seattle was well outside the playoff picture by the time of the February break for the 4 Nations Face-off and finished 35-41-6 (76 points). That was 20 points below the West's final wild-card spot and five fewer than the Kraken's 81 points in 2023-24.
'It became very evident that Lane presented the attributes we were looking for,' general manager Jason Botterill said. 'The combination of presence and knowledge to work with veteran players, and would also be dedicated to interact with young players.'
Seattle ranked in the bottom third of the league on the power play (23rd), faceoff winning percentage (24th) and average shots per game (25th). It was 21st on the penalty kill, an area in which Lambert helped the Leafs improve from 23rd to fourth.
'There are priorities in certain areas, but everything has to be addressed,' Lambert said. 'You can't build Rome in a day, and that's the whole process from Day 1. You start with the process, start demanding, and you start instilling your systems, your structure, your details. But definitely, our special teams have to be better. We'll better in our defensive zone. I know we will be. So that would be the start and the focus.'
Lambert has had NHL coaching jobs since 2011. His only head coaching experience came with the New York Islanders, beginning at the start of the 2022-23 season and ending when he was fired in January 2024. In his only full season, the Islanders made the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round.
'You go through an experience like that, you get let go, and you have a lot of time to reflect,' he said. 'If you don't have an ego, you can say, 'Gee, I'd do this differently or that differently. Or I'd do this or that the same.' There's certain little things I'll look at and look into changing.'
He was an assistant with Nashville from 2011-14, then with Washington from 2014-18, with the Capitals winning the Stanley Cup in 2018. The Islanders hired him as associate head coach prior to 2018-19. The teams he has worked for have made the playoffs 10 times.
Lambert inherits a roster that includes veterans Jaden Schwartz (a team-high 26 goals last season), Jared McCann (22 goals and a team-leading 61 points), Eeli Tolvanen (23 goals) and Chandler Stephenson (38 assists). The Kraken also have highly regarded young talent such as 2023 Rookie of the Year Matty Beniers (20 goals, 23 assists) and Shane Wright (19 goals, 25 assists).
'When you look at the team and the balance, we have great talent,' Lambert said. 'We have veteran players. The non-negotiables are that we have to play the right way — that's the formula.'
___
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Washington Post
28 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Women's hockey is on the rise in Pacific Northwest, with young girls excited about PWHL's arrival
SEATTLE — Elly Garcia-Dudek can't help but gaze out toward the ice during hockey practices at the Kraken Community Iceplex. The 12-year-old Garcia-Dudek is a big fan of women's national team stars like Hilary Knight, who starred for the Boston Fleet of the Professional Women's Hockey League last season. Pretty soon, Garcia-Dudek — who started playing through the Seattle Kraken's Learn to Play program — won't have to look across the country for role models like Knight.


San Francisco Chronicle
33 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Gipson-Long pitches effectively and Torkelson homers as the Tigers beat the Orioles 5-3
BALTIMORE (AP) — Spencer Torkelson homered and Sawyer Gipson-Long pitched effectively out of the bullpen to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 on Tuesday night. Zach McKinstry hit two triples for the Tigers, who have won 11 of 15 and own the best record in the majors at 44-24. Detroit is 4-0 against the Orioles this season, outscoring them 22-9. Making his second start of the season as an opener for the Tigers, Brant Hurter allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings. Chase Lee (3-0) got the last out in the third, and Gipson-Long entered in the fourth after Javier Báez hit an RBI single in the top half for a 2-1 lead. Making his second appearance of the year after missing the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John and hip surgeries, Gipson-Long gave up one run and three hits with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Gipson-Long began the 2024 season on the IL with a groin strain. After just one rehab start, he underwent elbow surgery that April, followed by left hip surgery in July. The 27-year-old right-hander finally returned to the big leagues last week, but did not get a decision against the White Sox. Detroit scored five runs off Cade Povich (1-5) in the first five innings. The big blow was Torkelson's 16th homer, a drive to center with a man on that made it 5-1 in the fifth. Key moment Povich retired the first two batters in the fifth before Riley Greene doubled, Dillon Dingler hit an RBI single and Torkelson went deep, Key stat Detroit is 16-2 in its last 18 games against the AL East, its best mark since an 18-2 run against that division in 1973. The series continues Wednesday night with Detroit RHP Casey Mize (6-1, 2.91 ERA) — who is 4-0 in seven starts since April 13 — going up against RHP Zach Eflin (5-2, 4.47 ERA). ___


Hamilton Spectator
43 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Shohei Ohtani moves closer to his Dodgers mound debut, throwing 3 simulated innings in San Diego
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is moving ever closer to his first pitching appearance for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In fact, there's now a chance his fans might not even have to wait until the All-Star break. Ohtani looked sharp while throwing three simulated innings on Tuesday at Petco Park before the Dodgers faced the San Diego Padres, manager Dave Roberts said. The outing was another significant step in Ohtani's recovery from the elbow surgery that has prevented the two-way superstar from pitching since he signed with the Dodgers before last season. Ohtani threw just under 50 pitches to two minor league hitters during the third simulated game in his gradual comeback to the mound . The three-time MVP used his fastball and sweeper impressively, according to Roberts and Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior. 'I thought he was really good,' Roberts said. 'I thought the fastball had life. I thought the sweeper was really good. ... (The hitters) said the stuff was coming out really well. It was about 44 pitches or something like that, so it was really good.' The Dodgers have been cagey about the timeline for Ohtani's return to the mound, with Roberts suggesting in recent weeks that it might not happen until after the All-Star break. But after Ohtani's latest mound outing, Roberts now says the chance of Ohtani pitching in a game before the All-Star break begins July 14 is 'north of zero.' 'It doesn't have to be a full buildup, because anything that he can give us is certainly going to be additive,' Roberts added. 'But I still stand by him and Dr. (Neal) ElAttrache, the training staff. They're going to drive this. So I'm just anxious for the next one.' Ohtani hasn't pitched in a major league game since Aug. 23, 2023, when he abruptly left in the second inning of his final start for the Los Angeles Angels. He was eventually diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament that required surgery. Ohtani has demonstrated elite pitching ability when healthy: He went 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP while starting 86 games over five seasons for the Angels. He didn't pitch at all in 2019 and made just two starts in 2020 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Ohtani has remained steadfastly committed to playing both ways despite his hitting prowess, and the Dodgers could really use him on the mound this season. Los Angeles has 14 pitchers on the injured list, including expected starters Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Tony Gonsolin and Gavin Stone. Still, the Dodgers say they won't rush their cornerstone. 'It's tempting,' Roberts said with a smile. 'I'm sure Shohei is tempted to just rip the Band-Aid off and get into a big-league game, but I think we're doing a good job of trying to take care of him. And truth be told, I don't know if anyone knows the right time to get him into a big-league game, but we're still being very careful.' Ohtani has been only a designated hitter since he agreed to a 10-year, $700 million free-agent deal with the Dodgers. He immediately won his third MVP award in 2024, batting .310 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases for the eventual World Series champions. Ohtani was in his usual spot as the Dodgers' leadoff hitter for Tuesday night's game against the Padres. Los Angeles planned to throw yet another bullpen game due to the rotation's extensive injury woes. Snell also threw his first full bullpen session in two months on Tuesday at Petco Park. The two-time Cy Young winner, who will throw another 20 pitches on Friday, has said his arm is now pain free after he was shut down with left shoulder inflammation on April 6. Snell made only two starts this season before going on the injured list. He agreed to a five-year, $182 million contract with the Dodgers last winter. ___ AP MLB: