Nov 16, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken head coach Dan Bylsma speaks to the media after the game against the New York Islanders at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

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Seattle Kraken Relieve Dan Bylsma of Coaching Duties

A disappointing season and missed playoff hopes prompt the Kraken to make another coaching change in just their fourth NHL year.

After just one year behind the bench, Dan Bylsma’s time with the Seattle Kraken has come to an early end. The Seattle Kraken officially announced his dismissal following a frustrating season that saw the team tumble down the Western Conference standings. With no immediate replacement named, the Kraken will now launch a full search for their next head coach, marking the third leadership change behind the bench in as many years.

Bylsma’s appointment last summer came with hope. He had just led the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Seattle’s AHL affiliate, to back-to-back Calder Cup Final appearances, building a solid reputation for player development and a structured system. Promoted by then-GM Ron Francis, Bylsma was expected to reignite the Kraken after a step backward the year prior, but things didn’t pan out.

The Kraken are firing head coach Dan Bylsma after one season, per @FriedgeHNIC pic.twitter.com/ITNPEi5GD8
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 21, 2025

What Went Wrong with Dan Bylsma and Why

Despite modest offensive gains this season, the Kraken regressed in other key areas. While their goal-scoring improved to a middle-of-the-pack standing, their defensive structure weakened, and their goaltending became increasingly unreliable. These issues ultimately overshadowed their progress, dragging them further down the standings than the season before, finishing with five fewer points and seventh in the Pacific Division.

This sharp decline followed what had once looked like a breakthrough. Just a year prior, the Kraken posted a surprising 100-point season and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. That success raised expectations, expectations that Bylsma’s squad failed to meet. And when it became clear the team was heading in the wrong direction, a change became inevitable.

Seattle Kraken fire coach Dan Bylsma. Botterill to replace Francis as GM, AP source says https://t.co/D8RdBwxgfx pic.twitter.com/qTXJ06rtYz
— The Globe and Mail (@globeandmail) April 21, 2025

For Bylsma, this marks his third short-lived NHL head coaching stint. After winning a Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009, he was eventually dismissed for postseason underperformance. He then lasted only two seasons in Buffalo, with results that mirrored the Kraken’s recent struggles. Now, after just one year in Seattle, his future as a head coach in the NHL is once again uncertain.

As for the Kraken, their front office is undergoing changes, too. With Ron Francis moving up to team president and Jason Botterill stepping in as GM, the organization will look to course-correct quickly. Armed with over $21 million in cap space and only a few key restricted free agents to re-sign, the Kraken are in a position to make major offseason moves, including hiring a new coach who can truly bring this roster back to playoff contention.

Image Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Dan Bylsma

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Anamika Shrivastava

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