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# Lane Lambert Hired as Kraken Head Coach, Reunites With Several Veterans
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/lane-lambert-hired-as-kraken-head-coach-reunites-with-several-veterans/
- Published: 2025-05-30T04:03:32.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T05:59:16.000Z
- Author: Corbin Smith
- Tags: Kraken, Lane Lambert

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Following a lengthy search that lasted more than a calendar month, the Seattle Kraken finally have a new head coach just in time to wrap up preparation for the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft.

Officially announced as the replacement for Dan Blysma on Thursday night in the aftermath of a search conducted by new general manager Jason Botterill, the Kraken have hired former New York Islanders head coach Lane Lambert to take over on the bench. The 60-year old spent this past season as an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs, helping them advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals before bowing out of the postseason.

“After conducting an extensive search, we’re thrilled to announce Lane as our new head coach,” Botterill said per Seattle’s website. “We cast a wide net for suitable candidates. What impressed us throughout the interview process was Lane’s strategy and vision for this team. He was an integral part of the Capitals winning the Cup and the Islanders advancing to two straight Eastern Conference finals. We have full confidence in Lane to lead this team behind the bench.”

Before becoming a successful NHL coach, Lambert joined the Detroit Red Wings as a second round pick in 1983, scoring 20 goals during his rookie season. He spent six seasons with Detroit, Quebec, and the New York Rangers, recording 124 points (58 goals, 66 assists) in 283 regular season NHL games. He later played a decade of pro hockey outside of the NHL, including two years with the Canadian national team.

After hanging up his skates, Lambert quickly transitioned into coaching and made his first foray into the professional ranks as head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals in the American Hockey League in 2007, holding that position until the Nashville Predators hired him as an assistant in June 2011\. Over the next 13 seasons, he served as the top assistant for head coach Barry Trotz, including winning a Stanley Cup in 2018 with the Washington Capitals, before finally earning a shot to be a head coach after Trotz was fired by the Islanders in 2022.

In his first season at the helm for New York, Lambert led the franchise to 42 wins and the sixth seed in a highly competitive Eastern Conference, pushing the Carolina Hurricanes to six games in the first round. Unfortunately, after the Islanders opened the ensuing season with a 19-15-11 record, the team fired him and replaced him with Patrick Roy, leading to him landing with the Maple Leafs as the lead assistant for head coach Craig Berube.

Taking on extensive responsibilities as an unofficial defensive coordinator for Toronto, Lambert oversaw an impressive defensive revival from the Maple Leafs, who improved from 21st in goals allowed in 2023-24 to eighth last season. The much improved defense proved to be a catalyst for an Atlantic Division title for the first time in franchise history, paving the way for him to get another shot as a head coach in Seattle.

Taking over as the third coach in the Kraken’s brief franchise history, Lambert will inherit a roster with several familiar names that he has coached in the past, including captain Jordan Eberle, who helped the Islanders make the Eastern Conference finals twice. He also coached current Kraken players Chandler Stephenson, Andre Burakovsky, and Philipp Grubauer when the Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018, giving him a strong foundation of returning players to help install his system and culture.

As for potential personnel changes, Lambert will have three selections to work with in the first two rounds of the 2025 NHL Draft, including a top-10 selection in the first round to land a potential blue chip talent such as Swedish center Anton Frondell, Thunderbirds standout Radim Mrtka, or Tri-City defender Jackson Smith. Fired up for another chance to prove his mettle as the lead man on the bench, he’s eager to get to work rebuilding and revamping the roster with sights on getting back to the playoffs in 2025-2026.

"I'm so excited to become the head coach of the Seattle Kraken," Lambert said. "When it came time to writing a new chapter, I couldn't think of a better fit. Seattle is an incredible sports town, and I’ve been impressed by the energy of the fans every time I’ve been there as a visiting coach. This team has a talented group of young players poised to take the next step and a core group of veterans with great leadership qualities. I'd like to thank Samantha Holloway, Ron Francis and Jason Botterill for this opportunity. I can't wait to get started.”