Assistant Coach Jessica Campbell not returning to Kraken next season

Jessica Campbell will not be returning to the Seattle Kraken as an assistant coach for the 2026-27 NHL season.

Per sources to ESPN's Emily Kaplan, Campbell's contract expires this summer. The news comes after she made league history in July of 2024 when the Kraken promoted her to assistant coach — at the time making her the first woman to hold a full-time, on-the-bench role in the league. Campbell joined the Seattle organization after two seasons with its AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds — in which she ran the power play as the team reached back-to-back Calder Cup Finals.

As Campbell's contract is set to expire this summer, it appears per reports that she has received interest across the league. Though, the Kraken have left the door open to her returning to the organization in some capacity.

Kraken Executive Vice President and General Manager Jason Botterill said Campbell made the decision to move on from the Kraken due to other potential coaching opportunities. 

"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 Botterill in a statement. "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.” 

Jessica Campbell moves on from Seattle Kraken 

Campbell saw a hockey playing career of her own as a former captain of the Ivy League's Cornell University and played in the Canadian Women's Hockey League and for the Canadian national team.

Seattle entered the NHL as an expansion franchise in 2021. The Kraken are currently coached by Head Coach Lane Lambert who replaced Dan Bylsma.

The Kraken's release on April 30 said that Campbell is currently exploring other coaching roles in the NHL after originally joining the organization in July, 2022. In the league, Campbell regularly had one-on-one sessions with Matty Beniers, Shane Wright and — most notably Kaapo Kakko — who had a career year after his trade to the Seattle franchise in December.

Seattle has only made the Stanley Cup playoffs once, in 2023, since the founding of the expansion franchise. 

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