SEATTLE — New Seattle Kraken coach Dan Bylsma said during his introductory news conference Tuesday that Coachella Valley Firebirds assistant Jessica Campbell's name is in the discussion for a similar role at the NHL level.
Bylsma, who previously coached the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres, has been the head coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds for the last two seasons. Campbell, who became the first woman to be behind the bench as a full-time coach in AHL history, has worked under Bylsma with her contributions playing an instrumental role in the team reaching the Calder Cup final last season and advancing to the Western Conference finals this season.
The 53-year-old Bylsma said that he's talked with Kraken general manager Ron Kraken about the possibility of bringing in another coach who could complement Bylsma along with current assistants Jay Leach and Dave Lowry. Campbell, along with fellow Coachella Valley assistant Stu Bickel, have been part of those conversations.
If the Kraken were to hire Campbell, she would become the first woman behind an NHL bench either as a head coach or as an assistant coach in league history.
«Jessica has been part of that conversation. Stu Bickel has been part of that conversation,» Bylsma said. «What they've done the last two years with developing players down there — Tye Kartye and Ryker Evans — is evidence of that. They are part of the conversation about going forward with the staff here.»
The need to find another assistant stem from when the Kraken parted ways with Dave Hakstol after three seasons. Hakstol, who was fired after guiding the Kraken to the playoffs in the 2022-23 season, was dismissed after the team finished 17 points out of the final wild-card spot. The day
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