Bylsma's primary goal is clear: lead the Kraken back to the postseason. Drawing from his successful stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, he is tasked with securing enough wins to place the Kraken among the top Western Conference teams advancing to the playoffs.
This marks Bylsma's first head coaching role since leaving the Buffalo Sabres in 2017. Since then, he has served as an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings and most recently as the head coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Kraken's AHL affiliate.