Seattle Kraken Seek New Assistant Coach

The Seattle Kraken are now searching for a new assistant coach following Jay Leach's departure to join Jim Montgomery's staff with the Boston Bruins. Leach, who has been with the Kraken since their inaugural season, left after three seasons in Seattle to return to the Bruins organization, where he had previously coached the Providence Bruins from 2017-2021.

Leach's responsibilities with the Kraken included overseeing the defensive aspects of the team's systems and managing the penalty kill. Under his leadership, the Kraken's goals against average improved each season, showcasing notable defensive progress. Despite this, the penalty kill remained relatively stagnant. Leach was well-regarded by both former and current personnel for his contributions to the team.

Leach's departure leaves new head coach Dan Bylsma with only one assistant, Dave Lowry. Bylsma, who expressed his intention to reach out to Leach and Lowry upon his introduction as head coach, will now need to fill this crucial vacancy. General manager Ron Francis had previously stated that retaining Leach and Lowry was his decision, though he did not provide details on the factors influencing this choice.

The search for additional coaching staff is anticipated to gain momentum after Bylsma completes his commitments with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, who are currently competing for the Calder Cup. Firebirds assistant coaches Jessica Campbell and Stu Bickel are considered strong candidates to join Bylsma's team in Seattle. Should Campbell be hired, she would make history as the first woman to coach behind an NHL bench.

In a statement, Bruins general manager Don Sweeney expressed his enthusiasm about bringing Leach back to Boston, highlighting his successful track record and impact on player development. Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery echoed this sentiment, noting that Leach's experience and ability to connect with players would be invaluable to their team.

As the Kraken navigate this transition, the decisions made in the coming weeks will be critical in shaping the team's future coaching dynamics.