Penguins
BREAKING: Penguins Hire Rangers Assistant Dan Muse as Coach
The Pittsburgh Penguins have hired Dan Muse, a New York Rangers assistant who has extensive coaching experience with USA Hockey, as their next head coach, the team announced Wednesday.
Muse, 42, replaces Mike Sullivan, who now is the Rangers head coach.
He has wide-ranging coaching experience, from college to national teams to the NHL. With the Rangers and Nashville Predators, he has been a part of three divisional titles and two Presidents’ Trophy teams. He has overseen teams’ penalty killing in the NHL.
Muse has won championships at the NCAA (Yale), USHL (Chicago Steel), and IIHF U18 and U20 levels. Among others, he coached Penguins promising young forward Rutger McGoarty with USA Hockey Developmental Program.
“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,” Penguins president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas said in a release. “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.”
What a f****** joke. Mitch Love and DJ Smith wouldve been A LOT BETTER. Penguins fans deserve better than the BS dumbass Dubas is giving us.
I am glad that you can see in the future and know this move is bad. The penguins are rebuilding, so they will most likely be losing regardless. I think it is cool that they are giving someone their first shot at head coach.
Talk about a dark horse candidate! If he can aid in the youth development, bring a strategy for the team to win some more regular season games, and the playoffs be the goal – I’m on on board. Next step is to remove some vets from this roster and have KD work the phone for some offensive help. Not to mention re-vamp the driver’s side Defense. Ultimately, I want to watch exciting hockey. The 2022-23 and 2023-24 season were the most gut wrenching/almost unwatchable of the Crosby/Malkin era.
Why exactly do you think Love or Smith would be better?
Because his thoughts are the same thoughts as whatever reporter he is following. Anyone that his favorite reporters aren’t thinking of, he isn’t either. It’s called being a sheep and easily manipulatable (which we all certainly are victim of). Just cracks me up when shmucks at home think they know more than a legit NHL GM. Just because you haven’t heard of the guy, doesn’t mean he’s bad lol. Grow up, Peter Pan
Well said
How’s the weather in Toronto?
Love and Smith took themselves out of contention for the job possibly.
Or Dubas merely preferred Muse.
Douche Bag from HF Penguins Board
I thought it would be Love, however let’s give the new head coach a couple of years before seeing if Dubas made a mistake.
If I might borrow a phrase, “well, I’ll be cow kicked!”
I tried to + your comment but it took away the one you had and wont let me give you another.
Welcome Dan!
I was a witness to your NCAA championship at PPG!
Here’s hoping that you, Sid and all of Penguins nation gets another glimpse of the SC! 👍👍👍👍
We’ll see what he can do. I’d like for them to push the tempo up a bit in this rebuild. The momentum has begun but I’d like them to look at my wish list: Trade up for the first overall in the 2025 draft and take LD Schaefer, Change of scene trade for Elias Pettersson (shouldn’t cost a whole lot, maybe even get some RS), trade for RFA Marco Rossi and move Malkin to Crosby’s LW for his final season. I’M SCOЯE
Eri,
with respect to “trading up for the overall first pick in the draft, if you were the GM of the NY Islanders (other than Sid) what combination of players and/or draft picks could the Penguins offer that would justify your interest?
As the resident Least Knowledgeable Commentator on PHN, I see nothing we have that the Islanders would prefer over the presumptive best player in the draft.
If KD thinks Schaefer is the guy to add for LD who projects as the future #1 PIT D-man, I’d say it’s worth the cost of some picks/prospects because we have quantity in that dept but now need quality. I think the NYI would automatically be out to select first overall in 2026, as I believe you cannot win the lottery first overall or move up in draft order in consecutive years and are limited to winning two times within a five year period. (Not sure how that goes if you trade your first overall selection though.) Point is the… Read more »
Eri, I may be an Eeyore about the vacant inventory the Penguins have to offer in the way of trade bait but on the flip side you are one of PHN’s certified Pollyannas.
If the Islanders GM can be enticed to surrender the first overall pick to Dubas for the dregs of our roster I’ll be delighted but I would predict that would make Mr. Darche’s tenure as GM shorter than my attention span!
Haha, I had to refresh my memory on ‘Pollyannas.’ Somebody has to. There are many commenters who forget these comments are on a hockey website, albeit a well written and entertaining one. I’d say the hiring of Muse signifies a thinking of outside the box going forward. As to the NYI trading their first overall, if they are indeed entering a rebuild then it’s theirs. But they have more vet contracts than the Pens, if they’re entertaining the idea of slight retool on the fly – they could use that pick to add immediate scoring help. I wouldn’t call Rakell… Read more »
If the Islanders GM surrenders the #1 overall pick for any of the Pens assets, the Islanders should immediately fire him. Schaefer could be a generational prospect and the Islanders would be absolutely stupid to trade out of a spot that was gifted to them by the lottery
This is a laughable take at the offseason. There is not a chance the Penguins have nor give up enough talent/assets to get Schaefer and Pettersson.
Son, did you eat paint chips as a kid? Born under Power Lines? You’re not too good are you? Getting the 1st overall from NYI will be tricky, not impossible if KD’s camp believes he’ll be an impact player for years to come, remember they need quality, not quantity in the form of prospects. You realize Elias Pettersson is in Pierre-Luc Dubois territory ? VAN is going to offload him before his NMC kicks in on July 1, probably in a bad contract swap and/or Retain Salary on the deal. They will not receive a 1st rounder unless they eat… Read more »
Your living in a fools world if you think the Islanders would be dumb enough to trade the 1st overall pick but silly me I forgot what fanbase I’m talking to, A fanbase that delusionally believes that the other 31 GM’s are Dummies and will trade anything for next to nothing.
We all love to see Vittorio Di Stazio Jr comment and tell us how silly we are. I would be surprised if the new Isles GM moves the first overall pick, but you never know he’s brand new to the job. An Offer he couldn’t refuse could be made. It was a wish list
This ain’t the Godfather Eri, it’s real life and if you want that kind of offer I can give 1: Ownership of the Franchise in exchange for the 1st overall pick? How’s that sound Eri?
And the Pens will still have to give up young talent or picks to get either of them. The Islanders have been pretty inept as an organization, but there is 0 chance they move the #1 pick. And if the Canucks give up Pettersson, what would the Pens give them?
I want you to put together a realistic trade for both of these options.. oh wait, you can’t
Okay I am going to put this to bed once and for all. There is no way that Malkin is being moved to Sid’s LW. Nobody can or will come up with 5 legit reasons for even suggesting it so either fans can accept Malkin at 2nd Line Center or go bleep yourself but hey it’s your choice, Have A Nice Day!
If they trade for another center. He is likely to retire after the 2025-26 season, so they will need to replace him. Malkin on Sid’s wing showed results this prior season. Sid and Malkin enjoy being on the ice together and have the ability to toy with the opposition, you may have heard it called the Two-Headed Monster. It’s Malkin’s final season – have some fun and win some games. Count ’em 5, boy!
” It’s Malkin’s final season”–that isn’t confirmed yet! It SHOULD BE, and many of us would like it to be his last season. We will have to wait and see. The fact that he ran away from the media after the last game and then was a no show on locker clean out day may tell us that he has already been contemplating the tough decision ahead of him. I too would love to see him playing with Sid this season. However, that would be a tall task for Kyle to get a 2C. This isn’t EA Sports and teams… Read more »
Haha, thanks. It is an internal option Muse has. Acquiring Rossi isn’t out of the question and check out what’s going on in VAN with Elias Pettersson. They say, “we want to try to work with him,” but he’s got change of scene candidacy written all over him. Not quite PLD in LAK, but close. Can’t speak to the acquisition cost, but it couldn’t be that high given his past season. A 26 year old gamble.
At EP’s AAV? Oof.
OK….this should be interesting. The only Q I have – the fact that he played Division III @ Stonehill College….will that impact his success when instructing 3 (possibly 4) future HOF players. We shall see. Hoping Rutger can offer high kudos to his teammates and that carries weight.
Only one of those 3 (possibly 4) is going to be around after next season.
His name is Dan. What else did they need?
Best of luck to the new coach. Here’s hoping we get this turn-around done sooner rather than later!
Was his name even mentioned in the press? That said I’m happy to hear that he specializes in teaching the newer players, given that’s the phase we are now in.
Last week.
Disappointed that the headline wasn’t: “NO LOVE FOR THE PENGUINS: TEAM HIRES THE DEAN FROM COMMUNITY AS COACH”
Sorry to those who don’t get the reference to “Community”. Google “Dean from Community” and you’ll get it.
If he can do the peanut bar rap I’ll never criticize him. Another day, another dollar, another stuffed shirt with another white collar. Criminals, Wall Street, taking the pie…
Nice work, I knew that you dug that show and would get it!
Wow, that was a deep cut from the last season. Impressive, most impressive. I had to look it up. We will know that i am on to something if a Jeff Winger doppelganger is hired for assistant coach 😉
So we just swapped Sully for a blank slate. Buckle up it’s going to be a bumpy ride. Dufus , I had no doubt would do exactly what he wanted. We shall see…
Would have to lose for 8 years to be worse than Sully.
Will Francis Anzalone be joining the live chat tomorrow? I am very keen to hear his thoughts on this hire as well.
TBD. He’s traveling.
Toblerone, eating a Calzone, with Abalone, add Provolone.
Little disappointed at first, but he has succeeded everywhere he has been, next step is as head coach in the nhl
On a 1-10, with 10 being the least surprised, how surprised were you by this announcement??
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I guess we’ll soon see, but it seems to move the fan-anger poll, far more than fan-happy stick!!
The question I have is, “Was this DUBAs’ call or the Boston owners?
I’m thrilled. Nobody could be worse that the last 7 years!
Media speculation of potential candidates does not mean that was Dubas’ all-inclusive list or that any of those names was among Dubas’ first choice. Nor does Muse’s history in Boston area hockey circles mean Muse was forced on Dubas by ownership.
Is there a salary cap for coaches? Maybe that explains this decision
Your question somehow triggered my curiosity as to whether Sid had significant influence in Dubas’s choice of Muse? Although Sid may well retire in two more years, I think Dubas would be short sighted if he failed to solicit Sid’s input. Sid is not merely a super star of the past 20 seasons; he is arguably one of the 4 or 5 greatest players in the history of the sport. In NBA terms we’re talking Jordan, James, Jabbar territory. Thus, it’s more than likely that Dubas will never again have an icon available to provide input. Regardless, I’m now a… Read more »
Awesome! A huge improvement at coach. Now lets get some BIG D men that can play D!
Umm…who?! That was my first reaction, but perhaps it’s a good thing. Time will tell. Give the guy a chance.
That’s all we are saying.
Well the news did not come as a surprise to me. Of course, I didn’t know the name, and I still don’t really know it, but by the time I learn it he’ll be gone. It’s just a transition coach to run down the clock. Once the clock shows zero, then we’ll have to rebuild and say it. Right now it’s a secret. Shhhhhhhh! Developing young talent? What young talent? We currently have zero young talent. Some mid tier prospects, but nothing for the first 2 lines or d pairings. Maybe one for the 2nd d pairing, but just maybe.… Read more »
🤫🤫🤫 Don’t let the other 31 GMs know how bare the Penguins cupboard is or you will jeopardize Dubas’s plan to trade our Zamboni driver and a 3rd round pick in exchange for McDavid and Draisaitl.
On the other hand, Dubas may still be good for sending our lead locker room attendant from Wheeling to the Islanders for that first overall pick.
Hope springs eternal 🤪
I said it was a secret. 😀 Your comment is priceless. I burst into laughter and couldn’t stop.
I mean, it is still the offseason and the draft is this month. WBS has improved quite a bit over the past year. There are a few young players in the system.
I suppose you preferred someone like Torts to coach these new players? You would probably complain no matter who they hired.
I would like to know what you were reading and how you came to the conclusion that I was complaining or wanting Torts for coach. It’s sheer madness. Just reply to this when one of your young talents becomes a productive 1st or 2nd line player or top pairing d.