Seattle Kraken's new head coach, Dan Bylsma, is contemplating the possibility of current Coachella Valley assistant coach Jessica Campbell joining the NHL club in a similar role. Bylsma, who has led Coachella Valley for the past two seasons with Campbell as one of his assistants, mentioned that Campbell, along with fellow assistant Stu Bickell, is being considered for a position with the Kraken.
Bylsma expressed his intention to discuss potential futures with current Seattle assistants Jay Leach and Dave Lowery, while also exploring the option of bringing in coaches from outside the organization. He highlighted Campbell and Bickell's contributions to player development at Coachella Valley, citing the progress of players like Tye Kartye and Ryker Evans as evidence of their coaching prowess.
Jessica Campbell made history as the first female full-time assistant coach in the AHL when she was hired by Coachella Valley before its inaugural season. Notably, there has yet to be a female full-time assistant coach on an NHL bench. In a similar milestone, Emily Engel-Natzke was appointed as the Washington Capitals' first female video coordinator in June 2022.
Seattle Kraken's general manager, Ron Francis, emphasized that Campbell's hiring was based on her coaching abilities rather than her gender. He praised her diverse background in skating and skill development, underscoring the positive impact she has had at Coachella Valley.
While internal discussions have taken place regarding potential coaching options, Francis confirmed that there have been no formal conversations with Campbell as of yet. The Kraken organization values Campbell for her coaching acumen and the significant role she has played in player development at Coachella Valley.
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