Dan Bylsma will be the next head coach of the Seattle Kraken, turning his attention to the NHL after finishing up a little bit of business, or for him hopefully a whole lot, with his current AHL Coachella Valley Firebirds.
The Kraken’s top affiliate will open the Calder Cup Western Conference Final on Wednesday at home against the Milwaukee Admirals. The club fell one goal short of winning the championship under Bylsma last season in Game-7 against the Hershey Bears.
The Seattle coaching announcement will come at a special media conference on Tuesday morning at the Kraken Community IcePlex. It’s hard to pinpoint who first broke the story, so call it multiple reports.
Kraken Systems
Especially considering the fact that this recent inaugural franchise is reaching it’s fourth season and is somewhat urgently developing AHL prospects to make an impact in the NHL, it makes complete sense to have the man who’s been running the minor league club take over the big club’s reins.
It also doesn’t hurt that Bylsma won a Stanley Cup as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, taking over mid-season for Michel Therrien after 57 games. The Pen’s beat the Detroit Red Wings in a seven game Final to win the chalice. It was his first NHL head coaching gig.
His next best finish was 2013 when the club lost in the Eastern Conference Final to the Boston Bruins. Bylsma stuck around Sidney Crosby and cohorts through 2014 before losing the position and taking over the Buffalo Sabres for two seasons. That club failed to make the playoffs both years. It was his last NHL head coach spot up until now.
Disco
It’s a nickname that dates back to his playing days with the Anaheim Ducks (then “Mighty”). It wasn’t his favorite moniker for awhile, but he has no trouble joking about it now. It’s a name given by a teammate; something about his dance moves.
Recent Kraken
— Season Ends; Kraken Win Final Game 4-3
