Jay Leach Leaves Seattle Kraken Coaching Staff to Join Boston Bruins as Assistant Coach
Jay Leach, formerly an assistant coach with the Seattle Kraken, has joined the Boston Bruins as an assistant coach. The Bruins announced Leach’s hiring on Wednesday, marking his return to the organization after spending three seasons on Dave Hakstol’s coaching staff with the Kraken. Prior to his tenure in Seattle, Leach served five seasons as head coach of the AHL’s Providence Bruins.
“The Boston Bruins are excited to welcome Jay Leach back to the organization,” Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney stated. “Jay was a very successful coach with the Providence Bruins, where he greatly impacted our player development system. He also brings valuable experience as an assistant coach from the Seattle Kraken. We believe Jay will integrate quickly and complement our current staff as he comes back to work with our defense corps.”
Leach’s departure creates at least two vacancies on the Kraken’s coaching staff. Paul McFarland was dismissed at the end of the season along with Hakstol. However, Dave Lowry and goaltending coach Steve Briere remain with the team.
Kraken General Manager Ron Francis praised both Leach and Lowry following the appointment of Dan Bylsma as the new head coach last month. While acknowledging their value as assistants, Francis emphasized that Bylsma would have the freedom to select his own coaching staff.
“I’ve talked to both Jay and Dave. I’ve talked to Dan about how valuable I think they are and what they can bring. Ultimately, he will have conversations with them and fill out his staff the way he wants to do it,” Francis said.
During his five seasons as head coach of the Providence Bruins, Leach compiled an impressive record of 136-77-26. He previously served as an assistant coach for the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (2015-16) and Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany (2014-15).
Leach’s playing career spanned 11 seasons in the NHL and AHL, including 70 NHL games. As a left-shot defenseman, he played for the Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens, and San Jose Sharks.
Bylsma mentioned he would discuss the coaching staff positions with Leach and Lowry. He also indicated that AHL Coachella Valley assistants Jessica Campbell and Stu Bickel would be considered for roles.
“Jessica has been part of that conversation, Stu Bickel has been part of that conversation, and what they’ve done the last two years in developing the players down there. Tye Kartye and Ryker Evans are evidence of that, and so they are a part of the conversation about going forward with the staff here,” Bylsma said.
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