Kraken hire Lane Lambert as head coach

The Seattle Kraken hired Lane Lambert to be their new head coach, the team announced Thursday.

Seattle fired Dan Bylsma in April after he recorded a 35-41-6 record in one campaign with the club. The Kraken have missed the playoffs three times during their first four seasons in the NHL, including in back-to-back years.

Lambert served as bench boss of the New York Islanders in 2022-23 and 2023-24. He was dismissed by the organization in January 2024 and Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy was tabbed to be his replacement.

The Islanders made the playoffs in Lambert's lone full season at the helm, but they were bounced in the opening round by the Carolina Hurricanes. New York owned a 61-46-20 regular-season record during his tenure.

Lambert was an associate coach with the Islanders for four seasons before being promoted to head coach.

"I'm so excited to become the head coach of the Seattle Kraken," Lambert said. "When it came time to writing a new chapter, I couldn't think of a better fit. Seattle is an incredible sports town, and I've been impressed by the energy of the fans every time I've been there as a visiting coach.

"This team has a talented group of young players poised to take the next step and a core group of veterans with great leadership qualities."

The 60-year-old was an associate coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs this past campaign. He was also an assistant coach for the Washington Capitals from 2014-18 - winning a Stanley Cup with the club in his last campaign - and with the Nashville Predators the three seasons before that.

"We cast a wide net for suitable candidates," Kraken general manager Jason Botterill said in a statement. "What impressed us throughout the interview process was Lane’s strategy and vision for this team.

"He was an integral part of the Capitals winning the Cup and the Islanders advancing to two straight Eastern Conference Finals. We have full confidence in Lane to lead this team behind the bench."

Lambert is reuniting with a number of former Capitals, including Chandler Stephenson, Andre Burakovsky, and Philipp Grubauer, as well as ex-Islander Jordan Eberle.