After waiting seven years to be a head coach again in the National Hockey League, former New York Islanders assistant coach Dan Bylsma is getting another chance with the Seattle Kraken.
After waiting seven years to be a head coach again in the National Hockey League, Dan Bylsma is getting another chance with the Seattle Kraken.
He is currently the coach of their AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, who have made it to the Calder Cup Western Conference Finals:
Bylsma, who was part of the New York Islanders coaching staff for the 2005-06 season under Steve Stirling (Oct-Jan) and Brad Shaw (Jan-Apr), served as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins for the better part of six seasons (2008-2014), winning the Stanley Cup in 2009.
He won the Jack Adams in 2011.
After two years as head coach of the Buffalo Sabres (2015-2017), he spent three seasons as an assistant with the Detroit Red Wings (2018-2021) before serving as an assistant with the Charlotte Checkers (2021-22) and then the Coachella Valley Firebirds (2022-2024).
He will now take over as the head coach of Seattle after David Hakstol, the first coach in franchise history, was relieved of his duties following the 2023-24 season.