Latest news with #DanMuse
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Penguins fill out Dan Muse's coaching staff
This article originally appeared on First-year coach Dan Muse's staff will include two assistants who played for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Make that three, if you include goalie coach Andy Chiodo, who Muse has decided to retain. Advertisement The other two are Nick Bonino, a bottom-six center on the Penguins' Stanley Cup-winning teams in 2016 and 2017, and Todd Nelson, a defenseman who was the team's fourth-round draft choice in 1989 and played one game with them in 1991. In addition, former NHL winger Rich Clune was hired as an assistant, while Troy Paquette was brought in as an assistant video coach. Click here to read more from Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Penguins Name Full Coaching Staff For 2025-26 Season
May 1, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Nick Bonino (13) handles the puck as Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) defends the net in overtime of game three of the second round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the PPG PAINTS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Back on Jun. 4, the Pittsburgh Penguins hired Dan Muse as the 23rd coach in franchise history. And, now, his supporting cast has been made official. On Jun. 20, the Penguins announced that they have brought on assistant coaches Todd Nelson, Nick Bonino, and Rich Clunen as well as Troy Paquette, who will be the team's assistant video coach under Madison Nikkel. Advertisement Andy Chiodo will remain on the staff as the team's goaltending coach. Nelson, 56, has been the head coach of the AHL's Hershey Bears - affiliate of the Washington Capitals - for the past three seasons and won back-to-back Calder Cups in 2023 and 2024. He has also coached the Chicago Wolves and Grand Rapids Griffins as part of his AHL resume - earning 450 total AHL wins, which is the fifth-highest mark in AHL history - and his coaching experience at the NHL level includes the now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, and Edmonton Oilers - which was a brief stint as head coach in 2014-15. A bonus nuggest? Nelson, a former defenseman, was drafted by the Penguins in 1989, appearing in only one NHL game with the organization. 'With over two decades of coaching experience, Todd brings a championship pedigree and a winning history that speaks for itself,' Muse said. 'He has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to get the most out of his players, most recently in Hershey, and his leadership qualities and wealth of experience will be a tremendous asset to our team as we continue to build a culture of excellence.' 'I Couldn't Be More Excited To Get Started Here': 3 Takeaways From Dan Muse's Introductory Press Conference As Penguins' Head Coach 'I Couldn't Be More Excited To Get Started Here': 3 Takeaways From Dan Muse's Introductory Press Conference As Penguins' Head Coach On Wednesday, Advertisement Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas formally introduced Dan Muse as the 23rd head coach in franchise history at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Bonino, 37, said publicly that he would be joining the Penguins' staff on Wednesday. He was selected in the sixth round (173rd overall) by the San Jose Sharks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft and spent parts of three seasons with Pittsburgh, winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. He was part of the famous "HBK Line" - which also included Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin - that helped lead Pittsburgh to its 2016 championship. Bonino did see a short-lived second stint in Pittsburgh during the 2022-23 season post-trade deadline, appearing in only three games due to injury. In his NHL career - primarily as a responsible, shutdown two-way centerman - Bonino registered 159 goals and 358 points in 868 games, including 27 goals and 66 points across his two full seasons in Pittsburgh. Former Penguin Set To Join Coaching Staff For 2025-26 Season Former Penguin Set To Join Coaching Staff For 2025-26 Season A few weeks after it was announced that Advertisement Dan Muse would become the 23rd head coach in Pittsburgh Penguins franchise history, it appears that a former Penguin will be joining his coaching staff as well. 'Nick's understanding of what it takes to win at the NHL level is unmatched, and his unique experience as a player who filled many different roles over the course of his career will only help him as an assistant coach,' Muse said. 'His familiarity with the Penguins organization, as well as my familiarity with him as a player, and person, made him a great fit for this role, and we're excited to welcome him to our coaching staff as he enters the next phase of his career.' An assistant for the Anaheim Ducks last season, the 37-year-old Clune was also involved with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization in player development as well as with the AHL's Toronto Marlies as an assistant coach in 2023. The specific roles on the coaching staff for Nelson, Bonino, and Clune have yet to be announced. Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more! Featured image credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
New York Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Penguins hire Nick Bonino, Todd Nelson as assistant coaches, retain goalie coach Andy Chiodo
PITTSBURGH — Dan Muse's coaching staff is complete. The Pittsburgh Penguins announced Friday that the assistant coaches who will surround the first-year head coach include former Penguins center Nick Bonino, former Hershey Bears head coach Todd Nelson, former Anaheim Ducks assistant coach Rich Clune and former Toronto Marlies video coach Troy Paquette, who will become an assistant video coach for the Penguins under video coach Madison Nikkel. Goaltending coach Andy Chiodo will remain on the staff. Let's take a look at each coach a bit more closely: Why he makes sense: One of the most respected and cerebral members of the 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup champion Penguins, Bonino has never coached before but seems to have some natural attributes for the role. Former Penguins coach Mike Sullivan was fond of saying that a few of his players on that team — he would always mention Bonino and Matt Cullen — were like coaches on the ice. Advertisement There is another connection, too: In 2023-24, Bonino played under Muse with the Rangers and, before that, during his time with the Nashville Predators. Muse was an assistant coach on both of those teams. The Penguins have a lot of veterans on this team, and Muse was hired primarily to guide the new wave of Penguins who will arrive in the coming seasons. While Bonino has never coached before, he was a respected teammate of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Bryan Rust. He also played with Erik Karlsson in San Jose. If there is a problem between the new coach and one of the veterans, Bonino is a natural bridge. The Penguins have suffered greatly defensively since Bonino's 2017 departure and haven't been as difficult to play against since he left. Those were two areas of expertise during his NHL career, and perhaps he will bring some wisdom to the young Penguins in this regard. He also remains a fan favorite and the subject of a viral Punjabi goal call by Harnarayan Singh in 2016: What Muse is saying about him: 'Nick's understanding of what it takes to win at the NHL level is unmatched, and his unique experience as a player who filled many different roles over the course of his career will only help him as an assistant coach. His familiarity with the Penguins organization, as well as my familiarity with him as a player, and person, made him a great fit for this role, and we're excited to welcome him to our coaching staff as he enters the next phase of his career.' Why he makes sense: Nelson was considered one of the best — if not the best — coaches in the American Hockey League. He was also briefly the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers a decade ago and served as an assistant coach at the NHL level with the Atlanta Thrashers and Dallas Stars. He was a candidate for the Penguins head coaching job, and this hire will be roundly praised. Nelson is very highly regarded in hockey circles, and his experience will figure to pay some dividends for a coaching staff that isn't overly experienced. He has been a head or assistant coach for more than 20 years and was named the 2024 AHL Coach of the Year. 3 seasons in Chocolatetown. 141 wins. 2 Calder Cups. For that, and the countless memories that will last a lifetime, thank you 🫶🏻 Join us in wishing Todd Nelson all the best as he heads back to the NHL as an assistant coach with the @penguins! 📰 — Hershey Bears (@TheHersheyBears) June 20, 2025 What Muse is saying about him: 'With over two decades of coaching experience, Todd brings a championship pedigree and a winning history that speaks for itself. He has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to get the most out of his players, most recently in Hershey, and his leadership qualities and wealth of experience will be a tremendous asset to our team as we continue to build a culture of excellence.' Advertisement Why he makes sense: There is real familiarity and a pretty strong connection to Kyle Dubas, the Penguins' president and general manager. Clune, a tough customer as a player for five seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, Predators and Maple Leafs, began his NHL coaching career in the Toronto organization while Dubas was Maple Leafs GM. Dubas named him a player development coach in 2022. He would later join the Marlies (AHL) staff as an assistant coach before moving on to Anaheim as an assistant coach at the NHL level last season. The Penguins want to get tougher to play against, and Clune, a tough player in his day, should have some ideas on how that can happen. He's also a highly regarded, young coach. What Muse is saying about him: 'Rich brings a wealth of knowledge across every level of professional hockey, spanning from his 15-year playing career to his time in development and coaching at the AHL and NHL levels over the past three years. Rich's experience in coaching, development and as a former player and captain will be extremely valuable in this role, and we're excited for his addition to our coaching staff.' Why he makes sense: The decision to retain Chiodo, whom the Penguins promoted to be their NHL goaltending coach in 2021, will come as a surprise to some fans, given the considerable struggles that goaltenders Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic endured last season. However, Chiodo will be back coaching the Penguins' goaltenders. While their goaltending was not up to par last season by anyone's estimation, the Penguins generally believe that their putrid defensive work last season — not their goaltending itself — was the biggest reason for their inability to prevent goals. Chiodo is extremely well-liked in the organization. The work he and Jarry did together during the final month of the regular season stood out. Advertisement Why he makes sense: Video coaches have become more important in recent years, as everything from replay challenges to in-depth, strategic nuance is highly dependent on their work. Paquette is considered one of the best in the business, and Sullivan ofter referred to him as a 'superstar.' Trust is particularly important for a video coach, and Paquette, a native of Kingston, Ont., was hired by Dubas as Marlies video coach in 2021. So, familiarity and trust are already in place between the general manager and Paquette. (Photo of Nick Bonino: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
CBS News
3 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Nick Bonino joining Pittsburgh Penguins coaching staff
Former Pittsburgh Penguins player Nick Bonino is hanging up his skates and coming back to the organization as a member of the coaching staff. Bonino, 37, was playing professionally overseas in Slovenia and announced he was retiring to join the coaching staff of new Penguins head coach Dan Muse. "I just wanted to officially announce I'll be retiring from professional hockey," Bonino said in a video recorded and posted to social media. "I had a really unique opportunity to coach the Pittsburgh Penguins, something we thought was the best move for our family at this time." Bonino spent the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons with the Penguins and won two Stanley Cup titles while playing in Pittsburgh as a member of the infamous 'HBK Line' alongside Carl Hagelin and Phil Kessel. After winning the Stanley Cup in 2017, Bonino left the organization as a free agent and spent several years playing for the Nashville Predators before playing in Minnesota, San Jose, a brief stint back in Pittsburgh, and in New York with the Rangers. It's unclear what role on Muse's coaching staff Bonino is expected to fill.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What would make Dan Muse a successful hire for Penguins?
The Pittsburgh Penguins raised some eyebrows on Wednesday afternoon when they officially hired former New York Rangers assistant coach Dan Muse to be their newest head coach. Muse's name had only been mentioned briefly over the past few weeks and he was never really listed as one of the top favorites for the job. At least not to the level that somebody, like, say, Mitch Love was. Now that he is the newest head coach for the Penguins, it is worth asking what the expectation is for him and what it would take for him to be considered a successful hire. Advertisement The easy answer is a lot of winning, a lot of playoff appearances, and a team that is competing for a championship every season. But that just .... does not seem likely. At least not right now. Not where the Penguins are or where they will be heading into this season. Even though Kyle Dubas likes to push the idea that the Penguins will be good again sooner rather than later (an idea I do believe in) it is still probably going to take a couple of years. Certainly more than one year. The longer it takes, the more likely it is that Muse is not going to be behind the bench when the Penguins get on the other side of this rebuild (or re-tooling, or whatever they want to call it. Or whatever you want to call it). Advertisement That doesn't necessarily mean he is a bad hire, or will be a bad hire, or would be a bad hire if it plays out that way. The average shelf life of an NHL head coach right now is under three seasons. It is closer to two-and-a-half seasons. Unless you are Mike Sullivan and have won a couple of Stanley Cups with a team there is usually not much of a leash with general managers or ownership in this league. It is very likely, if not possible, that the next time the Penguins are ready to seriously compete for a championship that somebody else is going to be standing in Dan Muse's spot behind the bench. That is not a statement on Muse. It is just a statement on the reality of the game. Advertisement That was always going to be case this offseason when the Penguins hired their new coach, no matter who it ended up being. Recycled veteran coach. New up-and-coming coach. Whoever it was it did not and probably does not matter. That just typically tends to happen in rebuilds. The most important thing for Muse's success or failure with the Penguins is going to be with the development of their young players and what sort of identity he helps establish with them and the team going forward. It is going to be how players like Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty, Owen Pickering and Vladislav Kolyachonok develop this season. It is going to be what happens with players like Sergei Murashov, Harrison Brunicke, Tanner Howe and Tristan Broz when they arrive in the coming seasons. Advertisement It will be how whatever new younger players get mixed in through any transactions or draft picks this summer and how they develop. It will be how the team as a whole, young players and veterans, plays and what sort of style that is put into place. Even though I don't know a ton about Muse beyond his background and what I've read, I like the fact he comes with a track record and history of working with younger players in both the USHL and the US National Development team. He would hopefully be the type of coach that will not hesitate to put young players into positions to play and not necessarily panic if they make some mistakes early on. This can't be a situation where young players miss an assignment or lose a game and then get stapled to the bench or healthy scratched for extended periods of time. These guys need to play, they need to be trusted, and they need to get better. Advertisement If, in two years, the Penguins are not contending quite yet but players like Koivunen, McGroarty, Pickering, Brunicke, etc. are establishing themselves as NHL players, and potentially impact NHL players, I will consider Muse's job to have been effective and successful. He might not be the guy that gets them to a Stanley Cup, or a deep playoff run, or even back into the playoffs within the next couple of years. Recent NHL coaching histories suggests he will not be. He just needs to be the guy that gets that process rolling and helps the next wave of young Penguins players become good NHL players. The Penguins actually have a solid prospect pool (at least compared to what it has been in recent seasons) ready to make a name for itself in the NHL, and will have more joining them given the draft capital they have. They just need a coach to help get them there. More from
