Latest news with #DanBylsma
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Kraken name new head coach after Dan Bylsma firing
The post Kraken name new head coach after Dan Bylsma firing appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Seattle Kraken have found a new head coach after just one season with Dan Bylsma, as the young NHL franchise has hired Lane Lambert to handle the job behind the bench, the team announced on Thursday night. Advertisement 'UP NEXT: THE LANE EVENT 🤩We're excited to welcome Lane Lambert to the #SeaKraken as our organization's new Head Coach,' the Kraken shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter). The Lambert hire comes on the heels of the Kraken parting ways with Bylsma, who steered Seattle to just a 35-41-6 record for 76 points. Lambert has head coaching experience before his Seattle hire, having coached the New York Islanders for two seasons from 2022 to 2024.. 'After conducting an extensive search, we're thrilled to announce Lane as our new head coach,' shared Kraken general manager Jason Botterill (via Like Lambert, Botterill will also enter the 2025-26 NHL regular season in a new role for the Kraken. Botterill was promoted by Seattle to the general manager position in April. Advertisement 'We cast a wide net for suitable candidates,' Botterill continued. 'What impressed us throughout the interview process was Lane's strategy and vision for this team. He was an integral part of the Capitals winning the Cup and the Islanders advancing to two straight Eastern Conference finals. We have full confidence in Lane to lead this team behind the bench.' The Kraken started competing in the NHL in the 2021-22 NHL season, winning just 27 games under Dave Hakstol. Seattle surprisingly made the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in just their second season in the league, even reaching the second round of the 2025 postseason. In what turned out to be Hakstol's final season with the Kraken, he guided the team to a 34-35-13 record. 'I'm so excited to become the head coach of the Seattle Kraken,' Lambert said of his new job. 'When it came time to writing a new chapter, I couldn't think of a better fit. Seattle is an incredible sports town, and I've been impressed by the energy of the fans every time I've been there as a visiting coach. This team has a talented group of young players poised to take the next step and a core group of veterans with great leadership qualities. I'd like to thank Samantha Holloway, Ron Francis and Jason Botterill for this opportunity. I can't wait to get started.' During his time as the Islanders' head coach, Lambert went 61-46-20 through 127 games.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Kraken's Commitment To Assistant Coach Reportedly Causing A "Wrench" Into Their Head Coaching Search
Seattle Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell on her bench against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images According to multiple reports, the Seattle Kraken were strongly pursuing Rick Tocchet to be their head coach, but their commitment to assistant coach Jessica Campbell has reportedly been throwing a wrench into finalizing their next head coach. Advertisement The Kraken have been linked to multiple head coaches since firing Dan Bylsma, but they've watched many of them sign elsewhere. It started when Tocchet signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, and then when the Chicago Blackhawks agreed to terms with Jeff Blashill. Recently, reports have stated that Marco Sturm is signing with the Boston Bruins, and Mitch Love is signing with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Lane Lambert and Jay Woodcroft are now known to be leading the race for the Kraken's coaching vacancy, but according to Anthony DiMarco of the Daily Faceoff, the Kraken's commitment to Campbell has halted talks with certain coaches. "Speaking with an NHL executive on Tuesday, it sounds like the Kraken had their hearts set on Tocchet before shifting gears to Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love; the deal was close with Love but fell through at the finish line. Some believe that there is a condition for the next head coach in Seattle to retain current assistant coach Jessica Campbell, who was promoted along with former bench boss Dan Bylsma; this condition could be throwing a wrench into finalizing their next head coach." It's very rare for an NHL coach to join a new organization and not select or bring in assistant coaches they think are best suited to work with them. If they feel Campbell isn't best suited to work alongside them, they are more than likely looking to sign with a team that provides them more freedom. Advertisement The Kraken are the final team with a coaching vacancy, giving them the freedom to choose whoever is available. Stay updated with the most interesting Kraken stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story. Kraken Granted Permission To Speak With Maple Leafs Associate Coach Kraken Granted Permission To Speak With Maple Leafs Associate Coach The Seattle Kraken have been granted permission to speak with Toronto Maple Leafs associate coach Lane Lambert, according to Darren Dreger. Insider Reveals Four Potential Coaches The Kraken Are Looking At Insider Reveals Four Potential Coaches The Kraken Are Looking At Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman revealed on his podcast, 32 Thoughts, four potential candidates the Seattle Kraken could be looking to sign as their next head coach.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Kraken hire Lane Lambert as next coach
May 30 - The Seattle Kraken named Lane Lambert their head coach on Thursday, more than one month after firing Dan Bylsma. Most recently the associate coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Lambert heads into his second stint as an NHL boss after leading the New York Islanders in 2022-23 and part of 2023-24. "When it came time to writing a new chapter, I couldn't think of a better fit," Lambert told the Kraken's team website. "Seattle is an incredible sports town, and I've been impressed by the energy of the fans every time I've been there as a visiting coach. This team has a talented group of young players poised to take the next step and a core group of veterans with great leadership qualities." The franchise will embark on its fifth NHL season with its third head coach after Bylsma spent a single season behind the bench, which ended with Seattle missing the playoffs. Dave Hakstol coached the Kraken for their first three years in the league and guided them to one postseason trip. It was the latest step the Kraken took to reshape their front office and coaching staff this offseason. Ron Francis was elevated from general manager to president of hockey operations and Jason Botterill was promoted to GM last month. Botterill led the search for a head coach, according to the team. In a statement, Botterill cited Lambert's work as an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals when they won the 2018 Stanley Cup. "We cast a wide net for suitable candidates," Botterill told the team website. "What impressed us throughout the interview process was Lane's strategy and vision for this team. He was an integral part of the Capitals winning the Cup and the Islanders advancing to two straight Eastern Conference finals. We have full confidence in Lane to lead this team behind the bench." In Seattle, Lambert will work with three players whom he coached in Washington: goaltender Philipp Grubauer and forwards Chandler Stephenson and Andre Burakovsky. Kraken captain Jordan Eberle also spent time playing for Lambert in New York. Lambert was an assistant under Barry Trotz with the Islanders before being named his successor when Trotz was fired in 2022. Lambert has a 61-46-20 record as an NHL head coach. --Field Level Media
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Kraken hire Lane Lambert as head coach, replacing the fired Dan Bylsma
SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Kraken hired Lane Lambert on Thursday night as the third head coach in team history. Lambert replaces Dan Bylsma, fired after one season. The 60-year-old Lambert was most recently a head coach for the New York Islanders from 2022 until he was fired on Jan. 20, 2024. He was 61-46-20 with the Islanders, and they qualified for the playoffs once during his tenure. Last season, the former NHL forward was associate head coach with Toronto. 'I'm so excited to become the head coach of the Seattle Kraken,' Lambert said in a statement. 'When it came time to writing a new chapter, I couldn't think of a better fit.' ___ AP NHL:
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Seattle Kraken fire coach Dan Bylsma after one season behind bench
The Seattle Kraken fired coach Dan Bylsma on Monday after one season behind the bench. 'After a thorough review of the season and our expectations for next year and beyond, we've made the difficult decision to move in a different direction behind the bench," general manager Ron Francis said in a statement. "Dan is a great person and a respected coach. He played an important role in the development of many of our young prospects and was a big part of our early success in Coachella Valley.' Advertisement Francis will address the media on Tuesday. Seattle's KING 5 reported that Jessica Campbell, the NHL's first female full-time assistant coach, will be retained. The television station also said Jason Botterill will be promoted to general manager and Francis will become team president. Bylsma was hired in May 2024 after two seasons with the Kraken's American Hockey League affiliate. He replaced the Kraken's inaugural coach, Dave Hakstol, after the team dropped from 100 points and the franchise's first playoff berth in 2022-23 to 81 points and out of the playoffs. But Seattle fell to 76 points this season and dropped to seventh place in the Pacific Division despite adding Chandler Stephenson and Brandon Montour in the offseason. Advertisement The Kraken had to deal with lengthy injuries to captain Jordan Eberle and defenseman Vince Dunn. They gave up 29 more goals to finish ninth from the bottom of the league in defense. Bylsma, 54, went 35-41-6 in his lone season in Seattle. It was his first NHL head coaching job since 2017. He won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009 and had 355 regular-season wins with the Penguins, Buffalo Sabres and Kraken. Bylsma is the third NHL coach to be fired since the regular season ended, joining the New York Rangers' Peter Laviolette and the Anaheim Ducks' Greg Cronin. The Vancouver Canucks said Monday they didn't pick up the team option on Rick Tocchet's contract but have offered him a new deal and hope he stays. Advertisement "We've gone a long way from where coaches have been compensated with the Canucks for years − forever actually − and we're hoping that he takes that contract," team president Jim Rutherford said. There were five coaching changes during the regular season: Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers. (This story has been updated to add new information.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dan Bylsma fired after one season as Kraken coach
