Former Penguins coach Dan Bylsma hired by Seattle Kraken as AHL assistant

Former Penguins coach Dan Bylsma has been hired by the Seattle Kraken as an assistant coach for the club’s AHL affiliate in Charlotte.

Charlotte will have shared affiliation with Seattle and the Florida Panthers this season. Its head coach will be a Panthers employee, Geordie Kinnear.

Bylsma was let go after three seasons as an assistant with the Detroit Red Wings at the end of last season.

Bylsma, 50, is the Penguins’ all-time leader in regular season coaching wins with 252, 15 ahead of Mike Sullivan. Bylsma won a Stanley Cup in 2009 and the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 2011.

After he was let go by the Penguins in 2014, Bylsma was head coach of the Buffalo Sabres for two seasons before joining Detroit.

While coaching with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton before his promotion to Pittsburgh, Bylsma was part of a shared affiliation in the AHL. In 2006, Edmonton Oilers prospects joined Penguins players in Wilkes-Barre.

The Seattle organization has taken on a Penguins flavor. Ron Francis is the general manager, Jason Botterill is an assistant GM, and Brandon Tanev and Jared McCann were acquired in the expansion draft.