NHL Insider: Why Seattle Kraken chose Lane Lambert as coach

The Seattle Kraken finally landed on Lane Lambert as their new head coach Thursday over a month after parting ways with Dan Bylsma following just one season.

Seattle Kraken name Lane Lambert franchise’s third head coach

Why was the 60-year-old Lambert the Kraken’s choice? On Friday’s edition of Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy, host Michael Bumpus and producer Curtis Rogers talked to NHL insider Jeff Marek of Daily Faceoff to get insight on the third coach in the organization’s short history.

When it comes to what Lambert brings to Seattle, Marek said his strength lies in that he’s not so tied to one specific area of expertise.

“Lane Lambert has pretty much done it all behind the bench,” said Marek, who hosts The Sheet podcast for Daily Faceoff. “… It’s not as if he’s specialized in handling defense or just handling special teams. He’s kind of touched all of it. So what Seattle is getting here is a very well-rounded, experienced, and I should mention as well too a very well thought of and respected coach around the NHL. … So you’re getting a well-rounded coach who really does have the respect and admiration of a lot of people around the NHL.”

Lambert has some previous NHL head coaching experience, leading the New York Islanders to a combined 60-46-20 record over two seasons – 2021-22 and just over half of 2022-23. The Saskatchewan native also played six seasons in the NHL in the 1980s with the Detroit Red Wings and Quebec Nordiques as a right wing.

Most recently, Lambert was an associate coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 2024-25 campaign. He also has extensive experience as an assistant coach under Barry Trotz, which includes a Stanley Cup championship in 2018 with the Washington Capitals.

Marek pointed out that Lambert has some history as an assistant coach for teams that featured a pair of current Kraken players: right wing and team captain Jordan Eberle, who was with the Islanders, and center Chandler Stephenson, who was with Washington.

That familiarity may have tipped the scales in Lambert’s favor over a different candidate with local ties that Marek said the Kraken gave “a lot of consideration” to: former Everett Silvertips player and assistant coach Mitch Love.

“The other person that I know that they were very interested in is Mitch Love,” Marek said. “… Spencer Carbery will probably win the coach of the year from the Washington Capitals. He’s the new hotness in the NHL but the next hotness is probably Mitch Love. Younger guy, younger approach to things. I know they went down the road with Love, I think they had a four-hour meeting last week with Mitch Love. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“I don’t know that there’s one thing specifically that (the Kraken) were looking for other than I think they want someone to come in – and this is where where you look at Lane Lambert – that’s done a lot of things behind the bench, handled a lot of players. There are some players on the Seattle Kraken – Chandler Stephenson and Jordan Eberle – who have a background with Lane Lambert. I think that they want stability in the coaching position and they want someone who’s done a lot of different things on a bench.”

More on the Seattle Kraken

• Seattle Kraken sign forward John Hayden to a contract extension
• Kraken trio help US win ice hockey world title
• Here’s where the Kraken will pick in the 2025 NHL Draft
• Seattle Kraken voice Forslund weighs in on coaching, front office changes

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