Kraken Fire Former Stanley Cup Champion Head Coach

The Seattle Kraken have fired head coach Dan Bylsma after one season at the helm, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports. The team will reportedly begin a "full search" immediately.

Hearing the Seattle Kraken are making a coaching change.

Dan Bylsma will be let go…and a full search will begin.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 21, 2025

Bylsma, 54, replaced Dave Hakstol as Seattle's head coach on May 28, 2024. He led the Kraken to a 35-41-6 record as they finished seventh in the Pacific Division.

Previously, Bylsma served as the first head coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Seattle's AHL affiliate. He led the Firebirds to the Calder Cup Finals in each of his two seasons with the team, though they lost to the Hershey Bears both times.

Bylsma also served as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins (2009-14) and the Buffalo Sabres (2015-17). He took over in Pittsburgh late in the 2008-09 season, and led the team on an 18-3-4 record in the regular season before winning the Stanley Cup, defeating the Detroit Red Wings in a thrilling seven-game final. He also won the Jack Adams Award in 2010-11, as he led the Penguins to 49 wins despite losing Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for much of the season.

His stint in Buffalo was not as successful, however. The team marginally improved from where it was before he got there, but an alleged feud with young star Jack Eichel seemingly led to his dismissal after just two seasons.

Bylsma has the pedigree to continue coaching in the NHL if he wants to, but landing a head-coaching job may be difficult after this firing.

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