So many questions raised from Thursday’s news that Seattle Kraken assistant Jessica Campbell, first full-time female coach behind an NHL bench, is leaving the organization.
Was The Departure Actually Campbell’s Idea?
The Kraken framed severing ties on Apr. 8 with president of hockey operations Ron Francis as a mutual decision. “Ron and I agreed that this is the right moment to make a thoughtful transition,” said Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke.
That was corporate-speak. Leiweke admitted as much the next day, saying, “The parting with him this week was not fun.”
This was the statement put out about Campbell’s exit. “As Jessica’s current contract expires, she has expressed her desire to explore other coaching roles across the League and we support her in this process,” said general manager Jason Botterill.
“Jessica has been an important member of our coaching staff for the past four years, demonstrating deep knowledge, and a unique ability to connect with and develop players. We respect her decision and believe strongly in her as a coach in this league.”
It’s not a guarantee this statement can be taken at face value.
Was Campbell A Delayed Casualty Of Head Coaching Change?
Leiweke has promised an organization-wide audit would “leave no stone unturned.” Campbell might have been one of those stones.
When Kraken coach Dan Bylsma was fired one year ago, his assistants were dismissed as well – except Campbell. New coach Lane Lambert got to pick his own assistants – except Campbell.
Although the coaching styles of Bylsma and Lambert were dramatically different, the disappointing results weren’t. Seattle fell far short of playoff position each of the last two seasons. When the decision was made to retain Lambert, it’s reasonable to suspect he would prefer an entire staff of assistants whom he has history with.
Campbell’s decision to look elsewhere likely included the reduced role she filled under Lambert than with the coach that brought her to the NHL.
How Good A Coach Was Campbell?
This question is in no way a reflection of Campbell’s gender. She served as captain for Canada’s national under-18 team, played college hockey at Cornell, and professionally in the short-lived Canadian Women’s Hockey League and in Sweden.
Campbell received rave reviews from NHLers (Shea Weber, Brent Seabrook and Mathew Barzal) after creating her own power skating school. Kraken players also spoke glowingly of her mentoring.
This question is a reflection of the 33-year-old Campbell’s inexperience. She spent two seasons on Bylsma’s staff at AHL Coachella Valley before being promoted alongside Disco Dan to Seattle in 2024. That represented her only North American behind-the-bench coaching experience.
All three Kraken head coaches – Lambert, Bylsma, and Dave Hakstol – expressed that they were applying lessons in Seattle learned from previous coaching stops. No doubt Campbell will also be better wherever she lands next, and the landings after that, for the knowledge she’s gained here.
Or maybe she won’t go. ESPN’s Emily Kaplan included this unusual nugget in her story. “The Kraken have left the door open to her returning to the organization in some capacity, as she had a positive experience with the team, sources said.”
Career Continues, Legacy Already Secure
Campbell has earned the title “trailblazer.” Her go-to phrase is, “You can. You will.” She exchanges friendship bracelets with female fans at home and on the road.
The coach has shown remarkable poise navigating hurtful invective from misogynists, who don’t want women spoiling their old boys’ club. Future generations of women coaches will benefit from her suffering those slings and arrows. Women and other marginalized groups are already benefiting from having a person who looks different succeeding at the highest levels of the game they follow.
Similarly, the Kraken deserve credit for choosing the best person for the job, and realizing its impact. Her hiring created headlines far beyond the the hockey and even the sports world. Campbell, it’s important to recognize, was far from the only woman doing important work for the organization.
She’s said as much. “Being a woman in hockey has reinforced that leadership doesn’t have to fit a mold. I’m inspired by the women across our organization who continue to grow hockey in a way that leaves it stronger, more inclusive, and full of possibilities for future coaches, mentors, and leaders.”
For the Kraken, these include assistant GM Alexandra Mandrycky, player development consultant Katelyn Parker, and Senior VP Mari Horita. Former scout Cammi Granato is now an assistant general manager for the Vancouver Canucks.
Oh, and the team’s majority owner is a woman, Samantha Holloway.
Will Kraken Face Fallout?
Given Seattle’s admirable track record on diversity, they’ve largely avoided social media backlash.
- “This reads as they didn’t want to renew her contract.”
- “Campbell might be someone who knows hockey skills but isn’t a good in-game coach. Nothing wrong with that.”
- “It’s an awkward situation when people don’t want you, good on her to going elsewhere.”
- “Always good to have fresh faces in the league rather than the same recycled people.”
- “She’s well loved in Seattle by the fans. The anthem singer and her get the loudest cheers.”
- “She brought a lot of women fans to the Kraken.”
- “Head coach of the Leafs. The old hockey men haven’t been working.”
- “There’s a lot more support for her to exist as a coach in the NHL than I thought there’d be.”
- “Was she bought in to the new coaching philosophy? Could be that she wanted to do things her way and it didn’t mesh.”
- “It seemed clear that she was not as integrated with the regular staff.”
((Editor’s note: Unless discrimination is at play, and obviously in this case it’s not, given the fact an opportunity to succeed was provided to all of the various coaches over the last five seasons, it’s ultimately up to the discretion of the head coach and general manager as to who makes up their staff. It it truly was her decision to move on, then even that becomes a moot point.
Any and all coaches are under the gun when a team misses the playoffs for two (or more) consecutive seasons and the special teams are consistently inadequate. Last week, under a new head coach, the Columbus Blue Jackets dismissed assistants Mike Haviland and Scott Ford and video coach Aron Augustitus after a similar length tenure.))
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Can’t Lose Ground To Rising Division Rivals
