Kraken hire Jessica Campbell as NHL's 1st woman assistant coach - ESPN

SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken have hired Jessica Campbell as an assistant coach, making her the first woman behind a bench in NHL history.

This is the second time Campbell has made history. In 2022, the Kraken hired her as an assistant coach for their AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, where she became the first woman behind a bench in the AHL.

In her time with the Firebirds, Campbell coached the team's forwards and power-play unit was instrumental in the team reaching the Calder Cup Final where they lost to the Hershey Bears for the second consecutive season.

Back in May, the Kraken hired Firebirds head coach Dan Bylsma to replace Dave Hakstol, who was fired after three seasons. Bylsma, who previously coached the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, said at his introductory news conference that Campbell's name was in discussion for a similar role at the NHL level.

«Obviously now with the last couple of weeks, part of the conversations with [Kraken general manager Ron Francis] about our staff and coaches and what we think the team and the players need,» Bylsma told ESPN after his news conference. «That is an ongoing process right now… Jessica and [Firebirds assistant Stu Bickel] have been part of those conversations.»

In addition to Campbell, the Kraken also hired former longtime Minnesota Wild assistant coach Bob Woods. The Kraken needed an assistant who could oversee their defense and penalty kill with Jay Leach leaving to join the Boston Bruins. Leach was previous the head coach of the Bruins' AHL affiliate. Woods was with the Wild for six-plus seasons. He implemented a defensive structure that ranked 13th in goals allowed per game during his time with the club before he was dismissed when they also