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.
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Great addition getting Nelson.
Dan is missing the action…
Andy Chiodo being retained? That’s a head scratcher. Otherwise it appears to be some good additions to the staff.
Chiodo needed to go
Hmmmmmm. Years of lousy goaltending couldn’t possibly reflect on the coach.
Why? Because of Jarry? I think the Penguins are developing very good goaltenders in Blomqvist, Murashow and Larsson. Jarry has been a headcase since he turned pro, he goes from all star level performance, then down into the toilet. This is more on Dubas that signed him to a 5-year contract.
There are delusional people who think that coaches control the players like it is Playstation. Best to ignore them, or try to. It blows my mind.
If there’s a better coaching staff in all of hockey, then the name escapes me at the moment.
Keep doing you, KP.
Yeah, f’real. I wonder if he knows that drugs are NOT a requirement before commenting on this page. I will say, it is somewhat entertaining, though. Sometimes nonsensical gibberish just makes me smile.😁
Escaping Names??
Does that include the staff employed at MSG?? 😳😳😳