The Seattle Kraken are set to lose a historic figure from their bench. Assistant coach Jessica Campbell will not return for the 2026-27 NHL season, as her contract expires this summer.

Campbell made league history in July 2024 when the Kraken promoted her to assistant coach, making her the first woman to hold a full-time, on-the-bench role in NHL history. She joined Seattle's coaching staff after two standout seasons with their AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, where she ran the power play and helped the team reach back-to-back Calder Cup Finals.

According to reports from ESPN's Emily Kaplan, Campbell has received interest from other teams across the league. Kraken Executive Vice President and General Manager Jason Botterill confirmed that Campbell made the decision to explore other opportunities.

"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," 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."

While Campbell is moving on from her assistant coach role, the Kraken have left the door open for her to return to the organization in some capacity. It's a classy move from a franchise that has shown a commitment to innovation since joining the NHL as an expansion team in 2021.

Campbell's own playing career was impressive in its own right. She served as captain of Cornell University in the Ivy League, played in the Canadian Women's Hockey League, and represented Canada on the national team. Now, she's poised to write the next chapter of her coaching journey—one that could see her make history again elsewhere in the NHL.