Seattle Kraken Part Ways With Former Penguins Coach

It’s that time of year again when NHL coaches lose their positions due to falling short of expectations.

And the latest casualty has ties to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Former Penguins’ coach Dan Bylsma was relieved of his duties by the Seattle Kraken after just one year at the helm, it was announced today by Kraken general manager Ron Francis. 

Kraken Relieve Dan Bylsma Of Head Coaching Tasks; Will Begin A Full SearchThe Seattle Kraken have relieved Dan Bylsma from his head coaching job and will begin a full search of possible candidates, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. 

Bylsma’s Kraken ended with a 35-41-6 record this season, which led to a bottom-five finish in the NHL. He had previously coached the Coachella Valley Firebirds – Seattle’s AHL affiliate – to consecutive Calder Cup final appearances prior to replacing Dave Hakstol as the NHL club’s head coach prior to the 2024-25 season.

In 2008-09, Bylsma was the head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins – Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate – and his success in that role led him to replace Michel Therrien as interim head coach of the NHL club on Feb. 15, 2009. After the Penguins’ success during the final stretch of the season, he was officially named the team’s new head coach before leading the Penguins to a Stanley Cup championship that season.

Bylsma coached the Penguins until he was relieved of his duties after the 2013-14 season. He is the third coach to be let go since the conclusion of the regular season, as the New York Rangers and Anaheim Ducks also fired Peter Laviolette and Greg Cronin, respectively. 

Even In Passing, Shero Leaves Legacy On Penguins OrganizationIt’s hard to talk about the Sidney Crosby-era Pittsburgh Penguins without talking about former general manager Ray Shero.

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