The Seattle Kraken fired coach Dan Bylsma on Monday.
Bylsma leaves the Kraken after one season as their bench boss. The team went 35-41-6 for a .463 points percentage, the lowest since the Kraken's inaugural year in 2021-22.
“We thank Dan for his commitment and the energy he brought to our organization over the past four years at the NHL and AHL levels,” Kraken GM Ron Francis said in a statement. “After a thorough review of the season and our expectations for next year and beyond, we’ve made the difficult decision to move in a different direction behind the bench.”
The team didn't name a replacement. The Hockey News' Caroline Anne cited an ESPN report that assistant GM Jason Botterill could be promoted to GM while Francis stays on board, while Jessica Campbell, the NHL's first woman as a permanent assistant coach, is expected to remain with the team.
Bylsma replaced Dave Hakstol last season, after Hakstol had coached the team for its first three seasons. The team made it to the second round in 2022-23 but then fell out of a playoff position the following season. Bylsma got the job after guiding the AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds to the 2023 and 2024 Calder Cup finals, losing both times to the Hershey Bears.
Bylsma has also won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009 and the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year in 2010-11. In parts of nine seasons coached for the Penguins, Buffalo Sabres and Kraken, the 54-year-old has a career NHL coaching record of 355-231-61 in 647 games and 43-35 in the playoffs.
The NHL has now seen three teams make post-season coaching changes, with the Anaheim Ducksparting with Greg Cronin and New York Rangersfiring Peter Laviolette on April 19. The Philadelphia Flyers also fired John Tortorella on March 27 before the season ended, with Brad Shaw becoming the interim coach.
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