May 28, 2024 | 12:30pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

KRAKEN NAME BYLSMA HEAD COACH

Coachella Valley Firebirds Head Coach Dan Bylsma

The Seattle Kraken officially announced Dan Bylsma as their second Head Coach in franchise history.

On Monday, TFP’s David Pagnotta reported Bylsma was set to become the club’s new bench boss, and he is currently coaching the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds in the AHL’s Western Conference Final.

“Dan is a winner with a proven track record of developing both young and veteran talent and his leadership will help our team as we move forward,” said Kraken GM Ron Francis. “He has had success at every level, winning the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009, earning a Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach in 2011, and he led the Firebirds to Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals last year in the team’s first season. He knows our franchise, has worked with several of our NHL players, and we are excited to have him behind the bench and guiding our team next season.”

Bylsma has had two NHL head coaching stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2008-09 to 2013-14) and the Buffalo Sabres (2015-16 to 2016-17). Taking over a Penguins squad with a 27-25-5 record at the midway point of the 2008-09 season, Bylsma helped guide Pittsburgh to a 2009 Stanley Cup.

In 2010-11, Bylsma won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach after guiding the Penguins to a 49-25-8 record.

“I’m excited for this opportunity and honored to join the Seattle Kraken,” said Bylsma. “I’ve been a part of this organization for three seasons and have a familiarity with a lot of the players and staff here and think we have a chance to build something special together. I’d like to thank everyone with the Coachella Valley Firebirds for welcoming my wife and I with open arms, and I’d like to thank Samantha Holloway and the entire Kraken ownership group, as well as Ron Francis, for trusting me with this opportunity.”