Sergei Brylin named new head coach of Dinamo Minsk

Sergei Brylin has been appointed as the new head coach of Dinamo Minsk, replacing Dmitry Kvartalnov after three successful seasons that saw the Belarusian club reach new heights in the KHL. The three-time Stanley Cup champion returns to Russia with extensive coaching experience from the NHL and AHL, as he takes on the challenge of building on Dinamo’s recent progress.

Dinamo Minsk has appointed Sergei Brylin as the club’s new head coach, inaugurating a new era in the franchise. The former New Jersey Devils forward replaces Dmitry Kvartalnov, who leaves the Belarusian team after a successful three-season spell that saw the Belarusians reach new heights in the KHL. Brylin inked a contract for the next three seasons, as Minsk begins a new chapter under a coach with extensive experience in the NHL and AHL.

Kvartalnov arrived in Minsk ahead of the 2023-2024 season and quickly helped transform the franchise into a more competitive force in the Western Conference. Under his leadership, the Belarusians reached the Gagarin Cup playoffs in consecutive seasons, achieving the best postseason results in club history. In spring 2025, Dinamo defeated CSKA in the first round of the playoffs, winning a series for the first time ever and advancing beyond the opening round of the Gagarin Cup.

The 2025-2026 campaign brought another milestone, as Dinamo matched its best-ever playoff result by reaching the second round again. However, despite a strong regular season and high expectations, the team was unable to progress further, eventually falling short of its ambitions. Kvartalnov’s tenure will nevertheless be remembered as a period when Dinamo established itself as a serious playoff contender rather than simply a team fighting for postseason qualification.

Brylin arrives in Minsk after more than a decade of coaching experience in North America. Following the end of his playing career, he spent years developing young players within the New Jersey Devils organization, working with the club’s AHL affiliates before becoming an assistant coach with the NHL team in 2022.

Before moving behind the bench, Brylin built a remarkable playing career. Selected by New Jersey in the second round of the 1992 NHL Draft, he spent his entire NHL career with the Devils, playing thirteen seasons from 1994-1995 through 2007-2008. He became one of the most respected two-way forwards in franchise history, combining defensive reliability, work ethic and playoff experience.

Brylin’s greatest achievements came on hockey’s biggest stage. He won three Stanley Cups with New Jersey, lifting the trophy in 1995, 2000 and 2003. He is one of only five players in Devils history to be part of all three championship teams, alongside legendary names such as Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, and Ken Daneyko. During his NHL career, Brylin played 765 regular-season games, recording 129 goals and 308 points, while adding 34 points in 109 playoff appearances.

Although his NHL career was entirely associated with New Jersey, Brylin also had several KHL-era appearances after returning to Russia. He played for SKA and Metallurg Novokuznetsk, gaining valuable experience in the league’s early years. In total, he appeared in 214 KHL games with the two clubs, recording 73 points (30 goals and 43 assists). In 2010, he won the Spengler Cup with SKA.

After retiring as a player, Brylin immediately moved into coaching. He spent more than a decade working within the New Jersey Devils’ organization, first as a development coach and later as an assistant coach in the AHL and NHL. His long experience in player development and his background in both North American and Russian hockey will now be key elements as he takes charge of Dinamo Minsk.

For Dinamo Minsk, Brylin represents a different coaching profile from Kvartalnov. While Kvartalnov brought extensive KHL experience and a proven record of building competitive teams in Russia, Brylin offers a blend of NHL championship culture, player development expertise, and international experience. His main challenge will be maintaining the progress made in recent seasons while pushing Dinamo toward another step: becoming a genuine contender in the Gagarin Cup race. He will also coach the Belarusian national team.