By Silvia Leija Rosas, edited by Charles Hamaker

Seattle, WA - A month ago, Coachella Valley Firebirds head coach Dan Bylsma said he “in no way, shape or form” had ambitions of returning to the NHL. On Tuesday, May 28th, he sat next to Seattle Kraken co-owner, Samantha Holloway and general manager, Ron Francis as the Kraken’s second-ever head coach in franchise history in the Kraken locker room at the Kraken Community Iceplex in front of the local media for his introductory press conference. Bylsma flew up to Seattle from Coachella Valley for that press conference, and returned to California later in the day as he’ll coach the Firebirds through the rest of their 2024 Calder Cup playoff run.

About his return to the NHL bench, the Michigan-native said he needed to re-discover the joy of coaching after working as an assistant or in the minors for more than half a decade. Most famously known for winning a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, Bylsma returned to the NHL since his time behind the Buffalo Sabres bench in 2016-17. Bylsma had seen success during his time in Pittsburgh, never missing the postseason during his time with the Penguins, but couldn’t return to Cup glory and struggled during his time with the Sabres.

“We're extremely excited and honored and privileged to be joining the Seattle Kraken organization,” Bylsma said, speaking for himself and his family during Tuesday’s press conference at the Kraken Community Iceplex. “I think coaching in the National Hockey League is an extreme honor and privilege…and I'm truly honored that you think I'm the guy to do that for you and your team.”

Bylsma is taking over a team that is entering their fourth year with no captain and one postseason appearance in franchise history, as the competition present within the Seattle sports market may present a more immediate need for success with the Kraken. Bylsma has a big load to carry, and while you can still watch the replay of the press conference, here are three key takeaways to get to know the Kraken’s new bench boss. 

What Makes Bylsma ‘The Right Guy’ 

Ken Hitchcock, the fourth-winningest coach in NHL history, once said you can tell a good coach by the way their teams respond. 

According to general manager Ron Francis, the search for Kraken’s new bench boss started with a long list of candidates and culminated in five serious contenders. But to him, it was clear Bylsma was the one for the job. 

“If you look at Dan and talk to some of his players, there's a passion that he brings to the rink each and every day,” Francis said. “He works and strives to build relationships with his players and yet he's still firm with them, but I would say fair in his approach to doing that.”

Dan’s personality and coaching style will be a fit in the Seattle locker room and help get the best out of the players, Francis added. It seems that relationship-building was something Francis prioritized in this search and it’s a quality Bylsma prioritizes in his own coaching. 

“My coaching style, it's about relationships,” he said.  “It's about getting on the same page with the player and the individual.”

He may not have been an accomplished scorer during his time as a player, but his ice time was earned as a penalty killer – a role that requires precision, teamwork and quick, strategic thinking, all things he has involved in his coaching style. Bylsma has spoken at length about how his time as a player in the American Hockey League, the International Hockey League, and the NHL shaped the coach he has become. 

“As a player, I just wanted the coach to let me know what I needed to do, where I needed to go, how I needed to do it, and where I could get better–where I could improve,” Bylsma said. “I kind of knew I was going to be a coach someday ‘cause that's how I wanted my coach to be to me.”

His Relationship with the Team

After the Firebirds faced a Game seven exit in the 2023 AHL Calder Cup Final, Bylsma crossed the ice to hug then-Firebirds goalie Joey Daccord after the loss.

"We've been through a lot as a group and as a team,” Bylsma said then. “... I just love these guys."

During Bylsma’s introductory press conference, Holloway noted that a major part of the front office’s decision to bring Bylsma to Seattle came not only from his success in the NHL, but specifically his ability to develop players. 

Daccord played 38 games with the Firebirds during the 2022-23 campaign and was in the crease for their first ever postseason run. His Calder Cup playoffs performance caught the eye of the Kraken front office and he went on to beat Chris Driedger for the backup goalie role in Seattle. Daccord finished the 2023-24 season with an even 19-18-11, including the NHL’s first ever Winter Classic shutout, and looked like a starting caliber goalie at this level for the majority of the season.

“Developing our players is going to be crucial for the success of the future of this organization,” Holloway said. 

But the Firebirds call-ups aren’t the only players Bylsma has built rapport with. While he won’t be in Seattle until after the Firebirds’ post-season is over, he is already working on speaking with the Kraken leaders. Bylsma said he has spoken with Jared McCann, Jordan Eberle and Matty Beniers already and is planning to reach out to every Kraken player soon. 

“I think I have a pretty good feel for them and they have a pretty good feel for me,” he said. 

What Can the Fans Expect Next Season

Holloway said she expects Bylsma’s charisma and hockey knowledge will fit in with the kind of fan base the Kraken has continued to grow. 

“We have incredible fans and we want to do right by them,” Holloway said. “We believe that Dan is a great piece of doing that. He can connect with the fans.” 

Still, fans shouldn’t expect a complete-180 this upcoming season. 

“I think there is going to be a lot of similarities,” Francis said. “We will discuss some of the things here as we move forward–things we want to tweak that maybe we weren't doing as well.”

The Kraken’s offensive attack will need to be a priority this season. Through careful roster construction and cementing elite players on the power play and top lines, Bylsma will be able to ice a team ready to compete. 

Holloway added that the Kraken management is committed to work on all areas to improve the team–including bringing in players to help Bylsma and the existing group to find success. Whether that’s via a trade, as general manager Ron Francis has said that the team is willing to trade draft picks and prospects if necessary to acquire talent, or the free agent market, Seattle must add to their group if they’re going to reach the postseason next year.

Only the 2024-25 season will tell, but Seattle’s management seems to have full faith in Bylsma and his abilities to take this team far. 

As Holloway said, “We really believe our best days are coming soon.”

https://www.whereweconverge.com/post/category/Circling+Seattle+Sports

Article written by Circling Seattle Sports Kraken beat reporter Silvia Leija Rosas.

Cover photo by Mike Zitek.