Dan Bylsma finds himself amidst a whirlwind of activity as he transitions into his role as the new head coach of the Seattle Kraken. Currently, there is little respite for him, with the team’s focus squarely on preparation for the upcoming season.
“It’s a good feeling to finally be here and direct my attention solely to the Kraken,” Bylsma commented. “The players aren’t here yet; we’re working with our development players, but there’s a palpable energy and excitement as we start envisioning what lies ahead for the Kraken.”
Bylsma’s official duties on the ice commenced with the start of the team’s development camp on Tuesday, aimed at nurturing the top prospects within their system. This marked the culmination of an intense five-week period for Bylsma.
His journey began on May 28 when he was introduced as the Kraken’s new head coach, a milestone overshadowed by his ongoing playoff campaign as the head coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Seattle’s AHL affiliate, in the Calder Cup playoffs. This playoff run only concluded recently with a loss to Hershey in Game 6 of the Calder Cup final.
Following the conclusion of the playoffs, Bylsma quickly transitioned to Las Vegas for the NHL draft. Subsequently, he headed to Seattle to oversee the commencement of free agency, where the Kraken made headlines by signing defenseman Brandon Montour and center Chandler Stephenson to seven-year contracts. The whirlwind continued with the immediate onset of the development camp, leaving Bylsma little time to catch his breath amidst the hectic schedule.
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