Penguins Fill Out Dan Muse’s Coaching Staff

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.

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.

Nelson, who led Hershey to Calder Cup championships in 2023 and 2024, is the most prominent addition to the staff, at least in terms of coaching credentials.

During his three-season stint with the Bears, Nelson, who is pictured above, compiled a 141-53-12-10 record and set an American Hockey League record by winning nine consecutive playoff series.

He served briefly as head coach in Edmonton in 2014-15 and as an assistant with Dallas and Atlanta.

“With over two decades of coaching experience, Todd brings a championship pedigree and a winning history that speaks for itself,” Muse said, in a statement released by the team. “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.”

Bonino, 37, had announced his new job in a video earlier this week.

Although Bonino has no coaching experience, Muse said, “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.”

Clune, 38, was an assistant coach with Anaheim last season. Following his playing career, he joined Toronto as a player development coach in 2022 before joining the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate as an assistant coach in 2023.

“Rich’s experience in coaching, development and as a former player and captain will be extremely valuable in this role,” Muse said.

Chiodo will be entering his fifth season as the Penguins’ goaltending coach and his eighth in the organization, having earlier served as a goaltending development coach.

Paquette is coming off as a four-year run as video coach of Toronto’s AHL club, the Marlies.