Penguins make choice on new HC

The Penguins have employed Rangers assistant trainer Dan Muse as their subsequent head trainer, according to a group announcement. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported mins previous that the rent was once anticipated to get around the end line.

Muse is a little bit of a marvel rent. He was once the latest title to be reported as a candidate for Pittsburgh’s emptiness, connected simply Tuesday by means of Larry Brooks of the New York Post.

Not too way back, it appeared like the finalists for the Pens’ task had been Capitals assistant Mitch Love and Kings assistant D.J. Smith. It was obvious that Love was once out of the combination and changed by means of Muse as a finalist on Tuesday, in keeping with David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period. Love was once classified a reputation that Pittsburgh was once quite prime from the start. Still, the Penguins will as a substitute choose to poach a special assistant trainer of their early 40s from a Metropolitan Division rival in Muse.

This shall be Muse’s first likelihood to be an NHL head trainer. He has spent 5 years within the league as an assistant, first with the Predators from 2017-18 to 2019-20, sooner than operating below Peter Laviolette in Manhattan for the previous two seasons. In the interim, he served as the top trainer for the United States National Team Development Program and led the Americans to a gold medal on the 2023 U-18 World Junior Championship.

The construction of the Penguins’ younger gamers shall be an important over the following couple of seasons as they appear to temporarily go back to rivalry as Sidney Crosby’s, Kris Letang’s, and Evgeni Malkin’s careers wind down. That top-down ideology from basic supervisor Kyle Dubas is very obvious with the rent of Muse, who has received a couple of accolades on the junior degree, together with a USHL championship as head trainer of the Chicago Steel in 2017, sooner than touchdown the AC task with Nashville.

Here’s Dubas’ complete commentary on Muse’s appointment:

“During this process, we met with many candidates who we felt would have been a fit as the next head coach of the Penguins, but ultimately, Dan Muse stood out as the best choice. What separated Dan was his ability to develop players, win at all levels where he has been a head coach and his consistent success coaching special teams in the NHL. From his success in developing college and junior players, to his impactful work with veteran players during his time in the NHL, Dan has shown a proven ability to connect with players at all stages of their careers and help them to reach their potential. Additionally, his leadership of special teams units at the NHL level in both Nashville and New York produced elite results consistently. His overall body of work, attention to detail and vision for our group showed us that he is the best coach to take our team forward. We’re excited to welcome Dan, and his family, to the city of Pittsburgh.”

As for the Rangers, they’ll wish to proceed their training overhaul below new bench boss Mike Sullivan, who succeeds Muse in Pittsburgh. They’ll have a completely new bench body of workers subsequent season after firing affiliate trainer Phil Housley and shedding assistant trainer Michael Peca to Jeff Blashill’s body of workers with the Blackhawks.