Campbell won’t return to Kraken bench

More changes are coming to the Seattle Kraken.

Weeks after the departure of president Ron Francis, the team announced that assistant coach Jessica Campbell will not return behind the bench this fall with the expiry of her contract.

“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,” Kraken general manager Jason Botterill said 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.”

A 33-year-old native of Moosomin, Sask., Campbell became the first woman behind the bench of an NHL franchise when she joined the Kraken coaching staff in the fall of 2024. She had previously served as an assistant with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

A product of Cornell, Campbell was a forward in her playing days. She spent three seasons with the Canadian Women Hockey League’s Calgary Inferno from 2014 to 2017, recording 29 goals and 21 assists in 63 games. Twice an All-Star, Campbell and the Inferno won the Clarkson Cup in 2016.

Internationally, Campbell won a silver medal with Canada at the IIHF Women’s World Championship in 2015.