Seattle Kraken Lose Assistant Coach Jessica Campbell to New NHL Opportunities

Seattle Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell will be leaving the team to explore other coaching opportunities in the NHL. Jason Botterill, Kraken EVP and General Manager, announced that Campbell's current contract is expiring and she has expressed her desire to explore other coaching roles. Campbell has been an important member of the coaching staff for the past four years, demonstrating deep knowledge and a unique ability to connect with and develop players. And her departure is a mutual decision, with the door remaining open for her to return to the Kraken should she choose to do so. But Campbell's impact on the team will not be forgotten, as she broke barriers to become the first full-time female assistant coach in NHL history to work on the bench during the regular season. So it's no surprise that she's been highly regarded as a skating coach and has worked as an assistant coach for Germany during the 2022 IIHF World Championships. Campbell originally joined the organization in July 2022 as assistant coach for the Kraken's American Hockey League affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, for two seasons and helped them reach the Calder Cup Final both years. Before going into coaching, Campbell was a decorated player in the NCAA, the Canadian Women's Hockey League and Canada's women's national team, with whom she won the silver medal at the 2015 world championship. She hung up her skates in 2017 and became a highly respected coach, with a short stint with the Malmo Redhawks in Sweden in 2019 to 2020. Campbell's legacy with the Kraken will be remembered for years to come, and her new opportunities will undoubtedly be closely watched by the hockey community. The Kraken will now look to fill the void left by Campbell's departure, and it will be interesting to see how the team's coaching staff evolves in the coming months. With Campbell's contract expiring, the team has a chance to bring in new talent and fresh perspectives, which could have a significant impact on the team's performance next season.