Career
Before playing in the NHL, Bylsma played four years with the Bowling Green Falcons of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA).
He was selected 109th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1989 NHL entry draft. He played for the Jets. Instead, he played parts of two seasons with the Greensboro Monarchs of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). On July 7, 1994, Bylsma signed a contract to play for the Los Angeles Kings. On December 13, 1995, Bylsma made his NHL debut in a 6–2 win against the Ottawa Senators. On October 17, 1996, he recorded his first NHL point, assisting on a Barry Potomski goal in a 4–2 win against the Boston Bruins. On March 4, 2000, Bylsma scored his first NHL goal against Dan Cloutier in a 4–1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Bylsma went on to play for parts of five seasons with Kings.
On July 13, 2000, Bylsma signed a contract to join the Mighty Ducky of Anaheim. He went on to play parts of four seasons with the team. During his time with them, the Mighty Ducks made Bylsma their alternate captain. On Jan 14, 2004, the Mighty Ducks waived Bylsma's contract. He decided to retired from playing professional ice hockey in 2004.
Coaching career
After retiring, Bylsma decided to accept a contract to become an assistant coach for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks before moving to the New York Islanders and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
On February 15, 2009, the Pittsburgh Penguins fired their head coach Michel Therrien and announced that Bylsma was taking over as the interim head coach. Bylsma had a successful time as coach of the Penguins and became the new permanent head coach of the Penguins on April 28 after signing a multi-year contract. He coached the Penguins during that playoffs, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, and Carolina Hurricanes. They eventually defeated the Detroit Red Wings four games to three in the Finals to win Detroit's first Stanley Cup since 1992. After the 2010–11 season, Bylsma was awarded the Jack Adams Award for the league's most outstanding coach. On June 6, 2014, Bylsma was fired by the Penguins.
On May 28, 2015, Bylsma signed a five-year contract to become the head coach for the Buffalo Sabres. A third-round pick was also sent to the Penguins. He coached parts of two seasons with the Sabres. During his time with them, he made some players frustrated. It was reported that Sabres star Jack Eichel refused to re-sign with the team if Bylsma stayed on as coach. On April 20, 2017, the Sabres fired Bylsma along with general manager Tim Murray.
On June 21, 2022, Bylsma signed a contract to become the head coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the American Hockey League (AHL). On April 29, 2024, the Seattle Kraken fired their head coach Dave Hakstol and then promoted Bylsma as their head coach on May 28. He coached one season with the team, going 35–41–6. On April 21, 2025, the Kraken fired Bylsma as their head coach.
