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Dan Bylsma

Dan Bylsma is representing the United States as a coach for the fourth time and his third with the U.S. Men’s National Team. The head coach of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team in Sochi, Russia, Bylsma most recently served as an assistant coach for the bronze medal-winning 2018 U.S. Men’s National Team. 

Currently an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings, Bylsma has also served as a head coach for the Buffalo Sabres (2015-17) and Pittsburgh Penguins (2009-14), where he won a Stanley Cup in 2009. 

Named head coach of the Buffalo Sabres on May 28, 2015, Bylsma saw his first season in Buffalo end in a 33-point improvement over the previous season as the team finished with 81 points.

Bylsma’s debut as an NHL head coach occurred with the Penguins midway through the 2008-09 season and culminated in winning the Stanley Cup, Pittsburgh’s’ first since 1992. In each of his first three full seasons behind the Penguins bench, Bylsma’s teams produced 100-point seasons, highlighted by the 2010-11 campaign when he received the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s Most Outstanding Coach. In the shortened 2012-13 season, Pittsburgh won 75% of its games (36-12-0) en route to the Atlantic Division title and the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Over his six seasons with the Penguins, Bylsma guided the Penguins to six-straight playoff appearances while accumulating 252 wins, the most ever by a Pittsburgh bench boss.

Bylsma joined the Penguins organization in 2006 as an assistant coach for the AHL’s Wilkes-Barres/Scranton Penguins. He was promoted to WBS head coach in 2008-09 before taking over the top job in Pittsburgh. In his first 25 games with the Penguins, he was 18-3-4 for 40 points, the second-most of any coach in NHL history in their first 25 games.

His coaching career began in 2004-05 as an assistant coach for the AHL’s Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. He also served as an assistant coach for the NHL’s New York Islanders in 2005-06.

Bylsma skated for the Los Angeles Kings (1995-2000) and the Anaheim Ducks (2000-04) during his nine-year NHL career. In 429 games, he registered 62 points behind 19 goals and 43 assists.

As a collegian, Bylsma played four seasons (1988-92) at Bowling Green State University where in 155 games he contributed 37 goals and 50 assists.

Dan and his wife, Mary Beth, have one son, Bryan.