About Chris:
Taylor's playing career spanned from 1992 to 2011 across the NHL, AHL, IHL, and Europe. Drafted 27th overall by the New York Islanders in 1990, he appeared in 149 NHL games with the Islanders, Boston Bruins, and Buffalo Sabres and tallied over 600 AHL games, most notably in Rochester, where he ranks top five in assists, points, and games played. After finishing his playing career with three seasons in Germany and two more in Rochester, he transitioned into coaching in 2011, becoming Rochester’s development coach in his first year, then assistant coach through 2016. In August 2016, he joined the AHL’s Wilkes‑Barre/Scranton Penguins as an assistant before being named the Americans’ head coach in June 2017, a post he held through June 2020, compiling a 116‑65‑33 record over three seasons and earning two playoff appearances. In October 2020, Taylor began serving as an assistant coach for the New Jersey Devils, helping lead the team to two playoff appearances.
Fun Fact:
Taylor and Kraken general manager were not just teammates when they both played for the Rochester Amerks (2002-03), Botterill played on the wing of Taylor’s line, and the two finished 1-2 in points for the team.
