Seattle Kraken to Name Dan Bylsma Head Coach

According to multiple reports, the Seattle Kraken are expected to name Dan Bylsma as the team's second head coach in franchise history.

#SeaKraken set to introduce 2009 Stanley Cup winning coach Dan Bylsma as their second head coach on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Bylsma’s @Firebirds will open the Calder Cup Western Conference Final against @mkeadmirals.

Bylsma went 7 full seasons between NHL head coaching gigs. https://t.co/aO1h0HDcE8

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) May 27, 2024

The 53-year-old has spent the past two seasons as the Kraken's AHL head coach with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. The team has had a ton of success and during the regular seasons have combined for a 94-32-18 record. The Firebirds made it to the Calder Cup Finals last season and are currently battling it out in the conference finals.

Bylsma last NHL head coaching gig was all the way back in 2017 when he spent a couple of seasons with the Buffalo Sabres. He'd then go on to be an assistant with the Detroit Red Wings for three seasons from 2018-21.

Bylsma's mostly known for his time spent behind the Pittsburgh Penguins bench. He was hired in-season back in 2009 and lead the Pens to a Stanley Cup victory. He'd then go on to win the Jack Adams award as coach of the year in 2011, and was eventually fired in Pittsburgh in 2014.

Seattle had a coaching vacancy after letting Dave Hakstol go in April after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Kraken were 107-112-27 under Hakstol as general manager Ron Francis has found a new voice behind his bench. Francis is expected to be very busy this offseason trying to re-tool on the fly.

Photo credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK