Seattle Kraken splits with Dan Bylsma following disappointing NHL season

Veteran NHL head coach Dan Bylsma's comeback to lead in the league was cut short as the Seattle Kraken formally announced his firing after only one season. The decision comes after a disappointing season where the Seattle Kraken could not meet expectations, finishing seventh in the Pacific Division and far from making the playoffs. The club's 76-point final total placed them 20 points adrift of the St. Louis Blues, who won the second Western Conference wild-card position. Just three teams had fewer points, and an early-season slump eventually became his demise. Dan Bylsma was brought aboard by general manager Ron Francis in front of the 2024–25 campaign, replacing Dave Hakstol, who piloted the Seattle Kraken in their first three NHL seasons. There were lofty expectations for DanBylsma, whose previous career résumé boasts a 2009 Stanley Cup championship victory with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Jack Adams Award in 2011. A season of the team's inconsistent play and failures to gel cost them increasing scrutiny. A bleak 2-8-1 slide in the middle stretch of winter inflicted a serious blow to the Kraken's playoff hopes. Even a respectable 9-8-2 finish following the trade deadline wasn't sufficient to spark their hopes. Ultimately, Seattle's second-ever playoff appearance never came to be, leaving Dan Bylsma's job under the microscope. Bylsma also brought with him assistant coaches Jessica Campbell and Bob Woods, both having prior experience with him, including during his tenure with the Coachella Valley Firebirds—Seattle's AHL affiliate. At his helm, the Firebirds appeared in consecutive Calder Cup Finals, paving the way for his return to the NHL. Once touted as being among the brightest minds in professional hockey, Dan Bylsma has been unable to regain the success he previously experienced. His NHL coaching career started with so much promise in Pittsburgh, but since leaving the Buffalo Sabres (2015–2017), his head coaching opportunities have been scarce. The Kraken offered what many thought would be a rejuvenating platform, but the team's inaction in the 2021 expansion draft and inconsistency on the ice said otherwise. The Seattle Kraken is back at a fork in the road again. With the franchise beginning its fifth year, the pressure is mounting—and so is the sense of urgency to get something done. Regardless of whether Ron Francis is sticking around as general manager or not, identifying a new head coach who can stabilize the team is now the top priority.Also read: “Have to go the longer route”: First and only female NHL coach Jessica Campbell As for Dan Bylsma, the future remains uncertain. Though his name still holds value due to past glory, his recent stint in the NHL leaves people wondering if he'll be given another opportunity behind the bench.