Kraken season opener “special” despite loss to Blues in Bylsma debut

SEATTLE- For Dan Bylsma, it wasn’t so much about how he felt Tuesday as he stepped onto the bench as a regular-season NHL coach for the first time since he held the same position with the Buffalo Sabers in 2016-17.

It was about how he felt on Sept. 19, the first day he started training camp as a coach for the Seattle Kraken. At that time I had the feeling that I wanted to do something special here.

“I just think the attitude that ‘Ebs’ (captain Jordan Eberle) and the guys in that room have was really pleasant and enlightening for me,” he said after the Kraken’s 3-2 season-opening loss to St. Louis Blues at Climate Pledge Arena.

“We all believe we have something to prove, whether it’s our last year, whether it’s me, whatever it is (the last time I was an NHL head coach) was seven years ago. Each of us believes that we will change this. We will do everything we can to put a successful product on the ice. It wasn’t on the bench tonight. It was in training camp when the guys gave it to me.”

True, but Tuesday was the start of a new era, the Bylsma coaching era, as the Kraken look to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, which they last qualified for in 2022-23, the second season in their history had. Bylsma was named Kraken coach on May 28 after coaching Coachella Valley, the Kraken’s American Hockey League affiliate, for the previous two seasons.

Tuesday was also significant for Jessica Campbell, who joined Bylsma as the first woman to serve as a full-time assistant coach in the NHL. Campbell, Bylsma’s assistant at Coachella Valley, was hired by the Kraken on July 3.

The crowd cheered loudly for the coaches and staff during the pre-game presentation. When Campbell’s name was announced, the crowd at Climate Pledge Arena cheered. Campbell stood stoically through most of the cheering, but a small smile spread across her face as the camera panned to Bylsma.

“I waited to see if the reaction to me would be as loud. It wasn’t,” Bylsma said, smiling.

“I think at the start of this season there are moments for all of us where we are first. It is long overdue for Ebs to become captain. It’s great to see him on the ice as captain of our team. (Forward) Shane Wright, he’s got a journey ahead of him and he’s stepping on the ice to be a full-time NHL player now. This is great for him. I don’t think you can miss the fact that Jessica Campbell is a first-time coach in the National Hockey League. It’s great for them, great for the game.”