What To Know: The Kraken’s second head coach has been part of the Kraken organization since its inaugural season, joining as assistant coach of AHL Charlotte when Seattle and Florida shared a split squad. When the Coachella Valley Firebirds started AHL play in 2022-23, Bylsma, impressing Francis as an evaluator and relationship-builder, was the natural choice to become a head coach. Led CVF to the Western Conference championship and within one Game 7 overtime goal of winning the AHL’s Calder Cup. In season two, Bylsma continued rousing success with second lofty regular season winning percentage of exactly .715. Debuted as NHL head coach midseason in 2009, leading Pittsburgh to win that spring’s Stanley Cup against defending champ Detroit. Bylsma’s Pittsburgh teams made the playoffs in each of his six seasons.

Fun Facts: Fastest NHL head coach to reach 200 regular season wins. Played 429 NHL games for LA and Anaheim (nearly 50-50 with 220 for Kings and 209 for Ducks), one of 34 NHLers to play for both southern California teams.

What To Know: Lowry enters his third season with the Kraken as an assistant coach. Prior to joining Seattle’s coaching staff in 2022, he served as head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, where he was elevated from assistant coach for the 2021-22 season. Upon his appointment to head coach, the Jets went from a 13-11-5 record to finishing out the season with a 26-22- 6 record. Prior to his time in Winnipeg, Lowry spent five seasons as an NHL assistant coach with Calgary and Los Angeles. Lowry began his coaching career with the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen for the 2005-06 season, following a 19- year playing career in the NHL. Lowry became a head coach in 2007, where the Hitmen won a division title and made a playoff run. Along with the Hitmen, he held head coaching positions with the Victoria Royals and Brandon Wheat Kings, posting a 303-155-37 record in WHL games. Lowry was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1983 draft, and through his long career played for the St. Louis Blues, Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames.

Fun Facts: Lowry is no stranger to expansion teams. In 1993, he was selected by the Florida Panthers to join their inaugural roster and was nicknamed “Mr. Playoff” during the 1996 cup run, leading the team with 10 goals and seven assists. He is the father of Winnipeg forward Adam Lowry.

About Steve: Briere enters his third season as the team’s goaltending coach. His first season with the club in 2022-23 saw Martin Jones win 27 games and Philipp Grubauer backstop the Kraken to Game 7 of the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, starting all 14 of the team’s postseason games. In 2023-24 under Briere’s tutelage, goaltender Joey Daccord finished the year with a .916 save percentage and a 2.46 goals-against average, the former of which tied for third among goaltenders to play in at least 30 games that season. Daccord also set the franchise record for goals-against average in a season (2.46), save percentage in a season (.916), saves in a game (42) and tied the franchise record for shutouts in a season with three. Briere spent the previous seven seasons (2015-16 to 2021- 22) with the Toronto Maple Leafs. During his tenure with the Leafs, he worked with goaltenders Frederik Andersen and Jack Campbell, who were named to the NHL All-Star Game in 2020 and 2022, respectively. He played three seasons of collegiate hockey at University of Alabama-Huntsville and played 10 seasons of professional hockey.

Fun Facts: Returned to coach at alma mater, University of Alabama-Huntsville, winning the 2009 CHA Championship with now-pro goaltender Cam Talbot.