Early Reactions To Kraken's Hire Of Dan Bylsma

"It’s Going To Be A Delicate Balance For Bylsma In Seattle"

Hockey media has taken a generally favorable view of Dan Bylsma's hire as the new Seattle Kraken head coach.

With Bylsma running his postseason win streak to eight Friday with the Kraken farm team in Coachella Valley, more than one pundit thinks his success with the Firebirds was crucial to his hiring.

"I'm always intrigued to see what the next version of a coach looks like. This is a guy who's gone seven years between NHL coaching gigs. He's probably a way better and different coach now. 

"Seattle and Ron Francis have known him for a while, coaching in the AHL. They've had a lot of success in Coachella Valley. What do they know that we don't, about what's going to be different about Dan Bylsma this time around?"

"This is why it's so important to get into an organization as a head coach. After he left Buffalo, some people thought he was never going to get another chance. If you do a good job with a team's prospects, as he has, people will notice. 

"He had big support in the organization. They believe what he did in Coachella Valley made him deserve another chance."

"Francis will be leaning on Bylsma to not only squeeze what he can out of the team’s veteran players but also to develop the Kraken’s younger talents and set a better foundation for the long term. 

"The Kraken will continue developing young talent, including 2022 first-round draft pick Shane Wright, defenseman Ryker Evans and whoever they select with the eighth overall selection in the upcoming 2024 NHL draft. (Matty) Beniers is clearly crucial to the cause.

"It’s going to be a delicate balance for Bylsma in Seattle, and there’s going to be little room for error and/or stagnation. If the Kraken don’t move forward in short order, Bylsma’s tenure in Seattle will come to a quick end."

"Bylsma still favors an attacking style that allows skilled skaters to make plays. He also still prefers wingers who can create space with speed and physicality.

"But the stretch passes that were his hallmark in Pittsburgh - and never worked with Buffalo - are no longer the main element of his offense. His teams at Coachella varied their attack based on personnel, a signal that Bylsma is less rigid.

"A former player who scrapped his way as an NHL role player, Bylsma’s strength with the Penguins was his enthusiasm and communication. He elicited buy-in from Sidney Crosby, who had some of his top point-per-game seasons with Bylsma as coach."

"His track record in Pittsburgh, after their championship run, isn’t sparkling. And his two-year tenure in Buffalo was flawed as well. So the big question will be what he has learned from those two experiences, as well as his time in different capacities over the last seven years, to make this one more successful."