**Kraken Appoint Lane Lambert as New Head Coach**

The Seattle Kraken have announced the appointment of Lane Lambert as their new head coach. This decision follows a comprehensive search process, according to General Manager Jason Botterill. "After conducting an extensive search, we're thrilled to announce Lane as our new head coach. We cast a wide net for suitable candidates. What impressed us throughout the interview process was Lane's strategy and vision for this team," Botterill stated. Lambert’s notable past includes key roles in achieving significant playoff successes, notably with the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders.

Lambert succeeds Dan Bylsma, who was dismissed after just one year in the role. Bylsma had taken over from Dave Hakstol, the inaugural head coach of the franchise who led the team during its first three seasons. This transition doesn’t come as a surprise, as Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman had earlier reported that Lambert was the leading candidate for the position.

This will be Lambert's second opportunity to lead an NHL team. The 60-year-old previously managed the New York Islanders for 127 games but was replaced partway through the 2023-24 season by Patrick Roy. During his tenure, the Islanders recorded a 61-46-20 record and qualified for the playoffs in the 2022-23 season, although they were eliminated in the first round.

Botterill highlighted Lambert’s previous successes in his announcement, referencing his contributions while serving as an assistant coach with the Capitals during their 2018 Stanley Cup victory. Lambert later joined the Islanders as an associate coach, helping them advance to consecutive Eastern Conference Finals. Last season, Lambert was an associate coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs, a position that is now vacant following his departure.

Lambert’s new challenge with the Kraken will be to steer the team back to its earlier form. They had an impressive second season with a 100-point regular season but have since struggled, posting 81 and 76 points in the following two seasons. One key area of focus will be improving the team’s defense, which has seen a significant decline from allowing the eighth-fewest goals in the 2023-24 season to 24th in the most recent season.

With Lambert’s appointment, the NHL now has just two head coaching vacancies remaining—Pittsburgh and Boston. Reports suggest the Penguins aim to finalize their decision by month’s end, while the Bruins are also in the process of narrowing down their candidate list. It appears it won't be long before all 32 NHL head coaching positions are filled.