"Veteran Coach to Lead Firebirds, Replacing Bylsma"
Photo credit: The Hockey News
The Seattle Kraken announced on Friday that Derek Laxdal will be the new head coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds. While not yet a household name to desert hockey fans, he soon will be. Laxdal, 58, has extensive coaching experience at both the NHL and AHL levels. Most recently, he led the Oshawa Generals to a 40-19-7 record and an OHL Championship Series appearance, earning the OHL Coach of the Year title.
Laxdal, hailing from Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada, succeeds Dan Bylsma, who guided the Firebirds to consecutive Calder Cup Finals before being promoted to head coach of the Seattle Kraken in late May.
This isn't Laxdal's first AHL head-coaching role. He coached the Texas Stars from 2014-20, achieving a 189-139-52 record and reaching the Calder Cup Finals in 2018. Afterward, he served as an assistant with the Dallas Stars before leading Oshawa in 2022.
The Firebirds' VP of hockey operations, Troy Bodie, highlighted Laxdal's AHL-to-NHL development experience as a key factor in his hiring. «He's got NHL and AHL experience, just like Dan did, and we have a high standard here,» Bodie said. Laxdal's expertise in coaching power play units also filled a crucial need after former assistant Jessica Campbell joined the Seattle Kraken.
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Current Firebirds' assistant coaches, Stu Bickel (defense and penalty kill) and Colin Zulianello (goaltending), will remain with the team. Zulianello and Laxdal previously worked together in Idaho.
Bodie noted that Laxdal was one of many applicants for the job, emphasizing the appeal of Coachella Valley as a destination for coaches and players. «It was an extensive process, and we landed on him as our guy. He's done a great job at other organizations, and we look for him to build on the foundation we've started in CV.»
Before his coaching career, Laxdal played six seasons in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders from 1984 to 1991. At 58, he is among the oldest of the 32 AHL coaches.
In a press release, Laxdal expressed his gratitude: «I would like to thank Ron Francis, David Bonderman, Samantha Holloway, and the entire Seattle Kraken ownership group for the opportunity to lead the Firebirds. I look forward to the season and meeting the great fans in Coachella Valley. My family and I look forward to making the valley our new home.»
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| POLL |
6 JUILLET | 16 ANSWERS "Veteran Coach to Lead Firebirds, Replacing Bylsma" Are you excited about Derek Laxdal becoming the new head coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds? |
| Yes | 15 | 93.8 % |
| No | 1 | 6.3 % |
| LIST OF POLLS |
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