Player, Coach, Dad

When new Kraken assistant coach Dave Lowry took over as interim head coach of the Winnipeg Jets last season, he stepped into the NHL-rare situation of coaching his own son, Adam. Dave Lowry played 1,195 NHL games across 19 seasons, five teams and multiple postseasons. Adam Lowry surpassed 500 regular-season games with his father stepping into the head coaching role and now has logged 578 NHL appearances over an eight-year career, including postseasons.
That's a lot of NHL experience. But Dave Lowry's promotion significantly decreased one statistic.
"I think we might have had dinner four times from December till the end of the season," said Dave Lowry by phone Monday. "And that would be something his mom would organize, just so she could see him ... Adam might have said it best, saying 'I lost my dad for the wintertime.' We just couldn't have those father-son conversations when things maybe weren't going so well."

For Kraken fans, there is more to unpack here. Dave Lowry made a great point while talking about his still-to-be clarified role on the coaching staff. He can relate to players as a former NHLer himself, a long-time NHL assistant, an interim NHL head coach, seven seasons as a Western Hockey League head coach "and as a parent." Ask professional athletes whom they call or text after games to dissect performances or just for support, and the most popular answer is dad and/or mom. Dave Lowry can bring a perspective not widely shared among NHL coaches, present and past.
Lowry is modest about playing 19 seasons, including the first four seasons with then-expansion team Florida, starring for the Panthers in a surprise run to the 1996 Stanley Cup Final in just their third season.
"I don't think it hurts," said Lowry when asked if a coach's NHL playing experience resonates with today's players. "I don't enjoy really talking about myself. It's all part of the experience process. You have it as a player. You have it as a coach. I'm fortunate I have it as a dad as well. Sometimes for guys, especially the younger players, things aren't quite the way they anticipated. I get that part as a player, a coach and on the parent side as well."
Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol said Lowry's experience will no doubt resonate among Seattle players and coaches.
"Absolutely, playing more than 1,000 games in the National Hockey League brings instant credibility," said Hakstol Tuesday. "He's been a really solid character guy throughout his career as a player, teammate and coach. We're excited to add that deep experience."
Hakstol said there have been significant discussions about how Lowry will fit into the coaching staff but added it will "take a couple weeks" to "re-arrange some duties" and "make roles detailed and situated."
Lowry said he was selective about contacting NHL teams about job openings. Seattle was on his short list both for the team's upside on the ice and people in the organization, including former opponent as a player, Kraken GM Ron Francis. Added bonuses for Lowry and his wife, Elaine: "We have grandchildren that live in Vancouver" and "I love baseball and have always enjoyed watching the Mariners play."

"I love working with the players," said Lowry about the opportunity awaiting at development and training camps in September. "I really enjoy watching the development from the start of the year to the end of the year, especially with the younger guys. You look at the organization in Seattle. They've got some young players that are going to transition into being roster players."
Since being drafted in the sixth round of the 1983 NHL Draft, Lowry has first-hand observed how the league's quality and style of play has evolved.
"I would say speed and the individual skills are the biggest changes," said Lowry. "Ten years ago, even 15 years ago, there was still a heaviness. You still had those big physical teams [imposing size to prevent scoring].
"The individual skills of the players have really increased. But you also look at the teams that win in the playoffs and how they're built and you have to have that blend [speed, skills and physicality]."
Lowry said communication with players has never been more important for NHL coaches when working with players to meld a winning team.
"I think every player who comes in the National Hockey League sees himself as a skill player," said Lowry. "And there are a lot of guys with those elite skills. As coaches, it's getting some of them to understand that you need other things to win [play on a checking line, block shots, get back on defense and more). Part of it is getting guys to understand those certain roles."
Lowry lived it first-hand as a player during the first four seasons of the Florida Panthers franchise history, lessons he can bring with him to Seattle.
"I think the biggest thing we were all unwanted," said Lowry about getting picked in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft and playing alongside all brand-new teammates. "Every night, it didn't matter who you're playing. There was someone [on the Florida squad] who had a chip on his shoulder out to prove he was a legitimate NHL player.
"When you put 23 guys in a room collectively and you develop that attitude ... we played hard every night and we cared for each other and did everything it takes to win. That group came together.
"We got on a really good run in their third year and we were able to carry it over to generate some momentum in the playoffs, and it's funny what momentum can do. You just get that belief in a room that you have a chance to win every night."