\u201cIt\u2019s looking like\u201d Lane Lambert will be back as the head coach of the Seattle Kraken. There\u2019s plenty of indications from returning general manager Jason Botterill and team CEO Tod Leiweke, via that quote on a recent show, that Lambert will start his second season in 2026-\u201927.<\/p>\n
Yet, with the franchise\u2019s top-to-bottom audit of all operations, on and off the ice, apparently still ongoing, Lambert hasn\u2019t been given official word.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s why I asked him the direct question at the very end of the Kraken\u2019s season ending press conferences. His answer finished the availabilities for the afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cHas anyone in the organization told you face-to-face that you\u2019ll be returning next season?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t been told anything, no,\u201d Lambert answered.<\/p>\n
I asked because during the questions and answers that proceeded, there seemed to be an air of hypothetical to everything said. Yes, the coach was making plans, thinking about work that had to be done, and looking forward to September. But it didn\u2019t feel definitive.<\/p>\n
He seemed irked at the end and had no issue with answering my question. It appeared it was more about the fact he was still waiting.<\/p>\n
He should be a bit ticked. OK, there\u2019s an audit going on, but do we really think at this point that Botterill, who we can safely assume is back, can\u2019t pull the trigger on reaffirming his coach.<\/p>\n
Apparently not.<\/p>\n
Maybe and hopefully for Lambert\u2019s<\/a> sake, this is just a formality. The players we spoke with seemed to endorse his systems. One would expect to hear the final answer before the end of the month.<\/p>\n Earlier Kraken:<\/p>\n \u2014 Most Kraken Skate Quietly Out Of Town<\/a><\/p>\n Earlier Canucks:<\/p>\n