Breaking down the Seattle Kraken’s head coach hiring of Lane Lambert

The Seattle Kraken have named Lane Lambert as their third coach in team history. Looking to help their young team make the jump to regular playoff contention, Kraken GM Jason Botterill will make moves to revamp his team, but the hiring of Lambert will have a big effect on the group as a whole. Let’s take a closer look at Lambert and some of the changes the Kraken might expect under him.

Lambert’s coaching history

Lambert started his coaching career as an assistant with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL in 2002–03. Since then he has enjoyed a long career with several teams across several leagues and in different capacities. Lambert quickly became a WHL head coach, jumping to the AHL as an assistant shortly after. By 2007–08 Lambert had become an AHL head coach for the Milwaukee Admirals, the Nashville Predators AHL affiliate.

After four seasons as the Admirals head coach, Lambert was promoted to an assistant coach for the Predators as part of Barry Trotz’s staff. Lambert would follow Trotz to the Washington Capitals, a four-year tenure that would culminate in a Stanley Cup. The coaching staff would move on, as Lambert joined Trotz in a move to the New York Islanders.

Then after another four seasons with the Islanders, Trotz was let go, leaving Lambert to take over the reins as head coach. The Islanders did not stick with Lambert long, firing him during his second season with the team. Since then Lambert spent one season as an assistant coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs before being hired by the Kraken.

Lambert’s coaching style

Given how little time Lambert has served as a head coach it can be difficult to separate his tendencies from those of Trotz. Lambert has served in several capacities, but seems to specialize with forwards and on the penalty kill. This might be crucial in the hiring of Lambert, as the Kraken need to improve defensively, yet have a reasonably solid blueline.

While his stint as head coach of the Islanders does not inspire in a vacuum, his results compare favourably to the seasons directly before and after his. The last bit of playoff victory was felt under Lambert, not Trotz or Patrick Roy, who would undoubtedly be seen as flashier hires. His Islanders, or last season’s Leafs for that matter, did not necessarily dominate expected goals shares, but seem to defend better than those stats might suggest.

The impact Lambert can have on the Kraken

A huge priority of the Kraken as a whole is based around the growth and development of Matthew Beniers, Shane Wright, and Berkly Catton, who are soon to be joined by another high end prospect. Beniers and Wright will serve in this role in particular, as the duo forming a capable one-two punch down the middle is requisite for success this upcoming season.

Wright has a bigger step to take, but showed some serious potential producing in limited minutes. The Kraken are starved for goals, and Wright proved capable of providing some offence in a smaller role last season.

While the Kraken require more offensive production, getting better defensive results will be crucial. As the core centres of the team’s future it is vital that Lambert is able to get the most out of Beniers and Wright.

Some residual familiarity with former Washington Capitals Chandler Stephenson and Andre Burakovsky might help, as would some added size on the wings, but helping Beniers and Wright take a step defensively is the quickest path to success.

The good news for the Kraken is that Lambert does seem likely to help in this area. If the forwards can help out defensively it will help the goalies and defencemen a great deal. While it may not be the most exciting hire, the decision to hire Lambert has logic behind it.