June 9, 2025 • 7 mins
Seattle Kraken head coach Lane Lambert sat down with Mike Benton at 32 Bar and Grill on his background, Barry Trotz's influence, and what kind of a team the 2025-26 Kraken will be known for, minutes after his introductory news conference at Kraken Community Iceplex.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's time to meet the krack with Mike Minton. Join
now buy a new cracket.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Head Coach, Lane, Lambert Lane, You've been through this journey
quite a while, assistant coach. You came up in Nashville.
You want a cup in Washington. You got to taste
of what a head coach's job is like. With the Islanders,
you get a year to make an impact also in Toronto.
What does this stage of your career mean to you
in Seattle?
Speaker 3 (00:22):
It means everything, I think, you know, as you go
along and as you gain experience, and as you get opportunity,
and you know, this is my second opportunity, having coached
the Islanders previously, but my second opportunity to head coach.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
So it's a.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Huge, huge honor and you know, I'm just I'm super
privileged to be able to do this.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Flying into town here, what was the first thing that
hits you about where you and family get to live,
work and.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Play Flying into town looking out the window. I'm from
Western Canada, so I have a little bit of an.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Idea, I guess, but just the beauty of it.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
And the topography, like the undulations, and it was it
was a bit of an eye opener.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
I'm not gonna lie. I've been here before.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
But usually in the you know, in the hockey season,
getting out towards you know, some of the areas, the
Bellevue's or Kirklands or whatever, and seeing what's out there.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
It's a beautiful, beautiful city.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
What does someone like you take away in your first
few trips here to Seattle and previous jobs understanding of
what this place.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Is like now for you? Ah, well, you know here.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Here's what I'll say is that this this place, this city,
the organization, the franchise, first class all the way. And
you know, that's what drew me to it within the
first five minutes of my conversation with you know, Jason,
Ron and Samantha, and feel very fortunate that you know,
I was able to to get the job. But certainly
(01:52):
I think that you know, being out on the East
Coast for me, for you know, basically my entire coaching career,
you don't realize, you know, just exactly what you're missing
when you get here. And I'm glad to be here.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Barry Trotz is someone that you spent a lot of
time with around in this league. Yeah, he said, A
key to coaching one time is to quote coach the
roster end quote, meaning take what you're given and coach it.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Up if necessary.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
So for instance, taking offensively a line team maybe and
teach them defensively. So at first glance, what do you
get to coach here?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Well, I think you get to coach both really, to
be honest with you, and I think the philosophy is
to coach both. And you know there's a there's a
fine line between balancing one and the other. If you're
too heavy in the offensive side of it, you know
you're going to give up scoring.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Chances and it might not work out for you.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
If you're too heavy defensively, you may not create enough
scoring chances.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
But I you know, I think the two go hand
in hand. And you know with that you've got support
in all three zones.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
You're you know, you're I've mad mentality when you're on
out on the ice, and you know you can have
success by having support and helping each other out and
being improper structure.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
And there's no question that you coach the roster you have.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
My philosophy is there's a way to win every game,
no matter what injuries, fatigue, whatever it might be, and
that structure is your safety blank and that structure is
the reason that you can win every game.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
You have some familiarity on this roster, beginning with your
captain Jordan Eberley. What can fans understand about this roster
in regards to where they can go offensively versus what
we'll define them defensively?
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Uh? Well, I think, you know, I think there's there's
always strides.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
To to to.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Improve in all areas, not just the offensive side, but
the defensive side. And I think part of, you know,
part of our structure will allow us to be better offensively.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
We'll have the pock.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Back sooner and we'll be able to transition, you know.
And and the other side of it is is that
we've got we've got good, young, talented blurs, and you know,
if they're in position and in structure and able to
transition offensively, they can you know, they can create offense.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
I love how you brought that up, because you coach
some great players previously over the years, chronologically Roman Yosi,
Philip Forsberg, Alex Olvechkin, and Nicholas Backstrom, Matt Barzel. Everly,
as we mentioned this well too, then you had Minch
Marnin Rosa Matthews in Toronto. For the young players coming up,
what can they learn about how those players and what
(04:31):
makes them go as far as they're approach to the
game and get the coaches trust for the most sice.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Time, Well, it's you know, the one thing about the
National Hockey League is it's the best league in the world,
and you have to pay attention to the littlest of details,
you know, and if you don't, your chances have had
successor a little bit less. And so the biggest thing
(04:56):
and the biggest thing to gain trust is to be
responsible ever wherever the wherever it is. You know, you
can have the puck in the offensive zone, be responsible
with it, don't turn it over high at the blue
line and allow the other team at two on one back.
You know, be responsible in a defensive zone if you're
supposed to be you know, if you're supposed to be
in position, be in that position. So the responsibility factor
(05:18):
leads into trust, and trust will lead into success.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Ye had a nephew who made a pretty big out
here in the w HL and Lambert, Yeah, Seattle Thunderbird.
What did the w HL for you mean for your career?
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Well, it started my career. It was where I was noticed.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
And and and got drafted out of Saskatoon way back when. Uh,
And you know it's you have certain moments in life.
Everybody has them, and you know where you make a decision.
I was in Swift Current, Saskatchewan playing for the Swift
Current Broncos at that time. They were a Tier two team,
Saskatchoon junior team, and Saskatoon called and so.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Was I gonna go?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Or was I gonna stay in Swift Current, you know,
and moved away from the family and went for it.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
And you know, here we are today. Go back to
your playing career. Who was the toughest guy that you
ever had to face?
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Oh, the toughest guy, I would probably, you know, I
mean we might have to say Dave Simenko.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
You know, I think probably he was the He was
certainly the most ominous guy. The good the good news
was as we had Bob Probert on our team, so
that helped.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
No one touches gretz Ski, right, No one touches. Finally,
I love how you mentioned the word aggressive this earlier
in your news conference today. When it comes hand in
hand with structure and then moving the puck up ISAs
as well, what's your vision with this group and what
they should.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Be known for.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Well, we're going to play fast and we're gonna be
on our toes. You know, you can't have success by
backing up, you can't have success by playing on your heels.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
So we'll be an aggressive team. We'll have a.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
North mentality and then when we don't have the puck wheel,
make sure that we were going south and getting it back.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Words of wisdom, Blaine, Welcome to Seattle.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Thanks you're home for the Kraken Sports Radio ninety three
point three k j R f M
It's time to meet the krack with Mike Minton. Join
now buy a new cracket.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Head Coach, Lane, Lambert Lane, You've been through this journey
quite a while, assistant coach. You came up in Nashville.
You want a cup in Washington. You got to taste
of what a head coach's job is like. With the Islanders,
you get a year to make an impact also in Toronto.
What does this stage of your career mean to you
in Seattle?
Speaker 3 (00:22):
It means everything, I think, you know, as you go
along and as you gain experience, and as you get opportunity,
and you know, this is my second opportunity, having coached
the Islanders previously, but my second opportunity to head coach.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
So it's a.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Huge, huge honor and you know, I'm just I'm super
privileged to be able to do this.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Flying into town here, what was the first thing that
hits you about where you and family get to live,
work and.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Play Flying into town looking out the window. I'm from
Western Canada, so I have a little bit of an.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Idea, I guess, but just the beauty of it.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
And the topography, like the undulations, and it was it
was a bit of an eye opener.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
I'm not gonna lie. I've been here before.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
But usually in the you know, in the hockey season,
getting out towards you know, some of the areas, the
Bellevue's or Kirklands or whatever, and seeing what's out there.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
It's a beautiful, beautiful city.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
What does someone like you take away in your first
few trips here to Seattle and previous jobs understanding of
what this place.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Is like now for you? Ah, well, you know here.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
Here's what I'll say is that this this place, this city,
the organization, the franchise, first class all the way. And
you know, that's what drew me to it within the
first five minutes of my conversation with you know, Jason,
Ron and Samantha, and feel very fortunate that you know,
I was able to to get the job. But certainly
(01:52):
I think that you know, being out on the East
Coast for me, for you know, basically my entire coaching career,
you don't realize, you know, just exactly what you're missing
when you get here. And I'm glad to be here.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Barry Trotz is someone that you spent a lot of
time with around in this league. Yeah, he said, A
key to coaching one time is to quote coach the
roster end quote, meaning take what you're given and coach it.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Up if necessary.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
So for instance, taking offensively a line team maybe and
teach them defensively. So at first glance, what do you
get to coach here?
Speaker 3 (02:29):
Well, I think you get to coach both really, to
be honest with you, and I think the philosophy is
to coach both. And you know there's a there's a
fine line between balancing one and the other. If you're
too heavy in the offensive side of it, you know
you're going to give up scoring.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Chances and it might not work out for you.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
If you're too heavy defensively, you may not create enough
scoring chances.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
But I you know, I think the two go hand
in hand. And you know with that you've got support
in all three zones.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
You're you know, you're I've mad mentality when you're on
out on the ice, and you know you can have
success by having support and helping each other out and
being improper structure.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
And there's no question that you coach the roster you have.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
My philosophy is there's a way to win every game,
no matter what injuries, fatigue, whatever it might be, and
that structure is your safety blank and that structure is
the reason that you can win every game.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
You have some familiarity on this roster, beginning with your
captain Jordan Eberley. What can fans understand about this roster
in regards to where they can go offensively versus what
we'll define them defensively?
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Uh? Well, I think, you know, I think there's there's
always strides.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
To to to.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Improve in all areas, not just the offensive side, but
the defensive side. And I think part of, you know,
part of our structure will allow us to be better offensively.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
We'll have the pock.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
Back sooner and we'll be able to transition, you know.
And and the other side of it is is that
we've got we've got good, young, talented blurs, and you know,
if they're in position and in structure and able to
transition offensively, they can you know, they can create offense.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
I love how you brought that up, because you coach
some great players previously over the years, chronologically Roman Yosi,
Philip Forsberg, Alex Olvechkin, and Nicholas Backstrom, Matt Barzel. Everly,
as we mentioned this well too, then you had Minch
Marnin Rosa Matthews in Toronto. For the young players coming up,
what can they learn about how those players and what
(04:31):
makes them go as far as they're approach to the
game and get the coaches trust for the most sice.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Time, Well, it's you know, the one thing about the
National Hockey League is it's the best league in the world,
and you have to pay attention to the littlest of details,
you know, and if you don't, your chances have had
successor a little bit less. And so the biggest thing
(04:56):
and the biggest thing to gain trust is to be
responsible ever wherever the wherever it is. You know, you
can have the puck in the offensive zone, be responsible
with it, don't turn it over high at the blue
line and allow the other team at two on one back.
You know, be responsible in a defensive zone if you're
supposed to be you know, if you're supposed to be
in position, be in that position. So the responsibility factor
(05:18):
leads into trust, and trust will lead into success.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Ye had a nephew who made a pretty big out
here in the w HL and Lambert, Yeah, Seattle Thunderbird.
What did the w HL for you mean for your career?
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Well, it started my career. It was where I was noticed.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
And and and got drafted out of Saskatoon way back when. Uh,
And you know it's you have certain moments in life.
Everybody has them, and you know where you make a decision.
I was in Swift Current, Saskatchewan playing for the Swift
Current Broncos at that time. They were a Tier two team,
Saskatchoon junior team, and Saskatoon called and so.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
Was I gonna go?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Or was I gonna stay in Swift Current, you know,
and moved away from the family and went for it.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
And you know, here we are today. Go back to
your playing career. Who was the toughest guy that you
ever had to face?
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Oh, the toughest guy, I would probably, you know, I
mean we might have to say Dave Simenko.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
You know, I think probably he was the He was
certainly the most ominous guy. The good the good news
was as we had Bob Probert on our team, so
that helped.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
No one touches gretz Ski, right, No one touches. Finally,
I love how you mentioned the word aggressive this earlier
in your news conference today. When it comes hand in
hand with structure and then moving the puck up ISAs
as well, what's your vision with this group and what
they should.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Be known for.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Well, we're going to play fast and we're gonna be
on our toes. You know, you can't have success by
backing up, you can't have success by playing on your heels.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
So we'll be an aggressive team. We'll have a.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
North mentality and then when we don't have the puck wheel,
make sure that we were going south and getting it back.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Words of wisdom, Blaine, Welcome to Seattle.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Thanks you're home for the Kraken Sports Radio ninety three
point three k j R f M
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