Ex-Maple Leaf assistant coach Lane Lambert gets crackin’ in Seattle

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The Toronto coaching tree became a harvest for the Seattle Kraken.

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Two of the Kraken's first coaches came through the Maple Leafs – Dave Hakstol, who led them to their first and only playoff appearance to date, and now Lane Lambert – both on staff under Sheldon Keefe and Craig Berube, respectively.

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Spencer Carbery, entering his second season with the Washington Capitals, won last year's Jack Adams Award as coach of the year after working under Keefe, who returns next week to the New Jersey Devils.

The Melfort, Sask., native of Lambert was the head coach of the New York Islanders, spending last season as Berube's “assistant” before replacing Dan Bylsma on the Kraken's bench over the summer.

“I really enjoyed my time here,” Lambert said Saturday morning at Scotiabank Arena as Seattle prepared for the Leafs, trying to stay in contention for first place at the start of the season in the Pacific Division with a 2-0-2 record. “The organization was outstanding, from top to bottom. It was a tremendous experience.”

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Among other duties, Lambert converted the Leafs' penalties, which was average during the regular season but improved to 81.6% in the playoffs, fourth among qualifying clubs.

“You can always learn little things from the people you work with, whether it's Craig or Mike Van Rhyne (still a Leafs assistant defenseman), little things. That's what happened here.

“There are certain things that you might say from the past, ‘If I had finished this, I would have done it differently.’ But experience gives you the ability to do things better—as long as arrogance doesn’t hold you back.”

Lambert didn't mind the sometimes harsh attention on the Leafs, although Berube's assistants had no daily contact with the media and rarely appeared on the club's social media platform.

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“I’ve certainly heard stories about walking down the street (and being recognized), but for me it wasn’t that bad.”

The Kraken didn't score too many goals, scoring 12, but conceded just 11, a point of pride for Lambert that he believes will boost the attack.

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“Our guys have done a good job of taking charge, but we only have four games left.”

Defenseman Vince Dunn won the 2019 Stanley Cup in St. Louis under Berube and Van Ryn and, like the original Kraken entering 2021 with just one playoff game, appreciates Lambert's different approach.

“I like his intensity and his system. Even in his meetings, when he's watching a video, if it's something positive, he's just as intense if it's something negative. You feel that energy whenever he's behind you.”

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“Being in a group that definitely needs it, the way he carries himself, being the elephant in the room, we definitely need that to bring us together. He really connects with the guys.”

Dunn said he sees similar trends in Berube and Lambert.

“I'm not sure who's stealing from who. But he reminds me a lot of the Chief in the way he interacts with the players. He and Rhino played a huge role in my development, were very honest with me and gave clear messages.

“Starting my career with coaches like these made it a lot easier for me to develop as a player and as a person. They're both emotional guys who have played the game for a while, so they know what it's like when you feel pressure or when times are good.”

Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, another expansion survivor, said responsibility was Lambert's biggest message.

“He's got a standard and we know what that is. All the guys are doing a good job. It's a good dynamic, but when you get into trouble it's going to be a real test.”

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