Ever because the Seattle Kraken joined the NHL, questions have surrounded how they constructed their crew and dealt with their enterprise. From the enlargement draft to final offseason, the Kraken have been checked out as a crew that may very well be higher, however they selected a protracted path to success.
Even with their playoff look in 2023, the place they made it to the second spherical of the playoffs, the Kraken have all the time performed issues in another way. Issues getting in the appropriate route, however after back-to-back seasons of lacking the playoffsthey determined extra change was wanted.
The Seattle Kraken have introduced a training change. Lower than a 12 months after changing Dave Hakstol, the Kraken are transferring on from Dan Bylsma.
Listening to the Seattle Kraken are making a training change.
Dan Bylsma will likely be let go…and a full search will start.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 21, 2025
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Along with firing Bylsma, the crew is selling present common supervisor Ron Francis throughout the group and making Jason Botterill, the assistant common supervisor, the brand new common supervisor.
Listening to there may even be change within the SEA entrance workplace. Jason Botterill new GM, Ron Francis will likely be crew president https://t.co/Eko68ULrak
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) April 21, 2025
These are attention-grabbing strikes from a crew that was not anticipated to make the playoffs this season. Bylsma changed Hakstol as a result of Francis thought they wanted a brand new voice. Recall, Byslma took the Coachella Valley Firebirds to the Calder Cup Finals earlier than his promotion. He introduced Jessica Campbell as much as the NHL. She is being retained as an assistant coach. Firing one other coach a 12 months later exhibits that the Seattle Kraken want a brand new route of their entrance workplace.
“We thank Dan for his dedication and the vitality he dropped at our group over the previous 4 years on the NHL and AHL ranges,” stated Kraken Normal Supervisor Ron Francis in a press release. “After an intensive overview of the season and our expectations for subsequent 12 months and past, we’ve made the tough determination to maneuver in a unique route behind the bench. Dan is a superb particular person and a revered coach. He performed an necessary position within the improvement of lots of our younger prospects and was a giant a part of our early success in Coachella Valley. We sincerely want him and his household nothing however success transferring ahead.”
?Night time Cap Recap ?
Not So Sleepless in Seattle… Kraken making teaching and entrance workplace strikes #sakerkaken #nhl pic.twitter.com/yPImSDY51I
– Jim Birger (@Bimburger) April 21, 2025
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A crew like Seattle shouldn’t be firing coaches 12 months after 12 months. That could be a Buffalo Sabres factor to do. Each groups surprise why they don’t seem to be profitable and never within the playoffs. There was some hypothesis that Ron Francis may not get the complete 5 years of his contract as Normal Supervisor. Many thought a GM change would come, particularly after the contracts given out to Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson.
Bylsma did nice work with the younger gamers, together with 2022 first-round draft choose Shane Wright and newly acquired ahead Kaapo Kakko. The Kraken performed nicely below Bylsma this season; nevertheless, when Francis didn’t qualify Morgan Geekie or Daniel Sprong after the crew made the playoffs in 2023, many questioned what he was doing.
Now the seek for a full-time coach will start. Will probably be an intensive search. Nevertheless, the coach shouldn’t be the one concern in Seattle. Roster building is one other drawback, and they should get the appropriate items to gel to get again to the playoffs. Nevertheless, the Kraken want to start out progressing in the appropriate route, or else they may fall into Buffalo Sabres territory.
A crew like Seattle can’t get caught in rebuild mode with Utah inching nearer to the playoffs. Everyone knows what the Vegas Golden Knights did of their first 5 seasons. It’s unfair to check Seattle to Vegas, however the Kraken have to get again to the playoffs; in any other case, they may very well be caught close to the underside for a very long time.
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