The Pittsburgh Penguins are about to embark on a coaching search for the first time in a decade.
While the team is in transition — that’s the term Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas prefers, as opposed to rebuilding — it remains among the best jobs in hockey.
Whoever coaches the Penguins gets to coach Sidney Crosby. The owner, Fenway Sports Group, has deep pockets. Pittsburgh is one of America’s great hockey markets and boasts state-of-the-art practice facilities and a loyal fan base.
So, who are the candidates to replace Mike Sullivan on the bench? Here’s a look at some names you’ll likely be hearing.
Rick Tocchet
He’s the first name that comes to mind. Consider all of the boxes that Tocchet checks:
• He is among the NHL’s better coaches.
• He’s a longtime member of the Penguins family, having won the Stanley Cup as a player in Pittsburgh in 1992 and as an assistant coach in 2016 and ’17.
• No coach, other than maybe Sullivan, commands Crosby’s respect like Tocchet does.
• Tocchet has a very good reputation for working well with young players, which is important for any new coach in Pittsburgh during this phase.
• Dubas and Tocchet both worked for Team Canada during the 4 Nations Face-Off. Dubas, who is the general manager of Team Canada at the upcoming World Championships in Sweden, recently stated on a podcast that he was hopeful Tocchet would be interested in coaching Canada in Sweden (he turned down the offer, citing his uncertain situation in Vancouver).
Of course, there are hang-ups. Canucks president Jim Rutherford wishes to keep Tocchet in Vancouver, where the head coach’s contract has expired.
Also, another of Tocchet’s former teams, the Philadelphia Flyers, might covet his services.
Tocchet is deeply fond of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and is probably the only man beloved in both cities.
Kirk MacDonald
The Penguins have a long history of success promoting the head coach of their American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes-Barre to Pittsburgh.
Michel Therrien was promoted from Wilkes-Barre and led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Final in 2008.
Dan Bylsma was promoted from Wilkes-Barre and led the Penguins to a Stanley Cup championship in 2009.
Sullivan was promoted from Wilkes-Barre and led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup in 2016 and ’17.
Consider that Dubas hired MacDonald last summer as Wilkes-Barre’s coach. Also, MacDonald has drawn outstanding reviews from the organization for the quality work he’s done there.
He doesn’t have NHL coaching experience, though that doesn’t seem to be a requirement for Dubas.
MacDonald is someone to keep in mind.
David Carle
There is no hotter name on the coaching market than the University of Denver coach.
Carle is only 35, but that might not be a bad thing.
The young coach recently removed himself from the running for the Chicago Blackhawks head coach position. It remains to be seen whether that means he’s not interested in coaching in the NHL right now.
Carle is a major commodity and would seem a perfectly logical fit for any team looking to develop young players. He has enjoyed profound success coaching at the college level and for Team USA at World Juniors.
Dubas is not against the idea of hiring someone young. He doesn’t come across as eager to recycle the same old coaching names.
Todd Nelson
He’s led the Hershey Bears to three championships and is considered among the AHL’s best coaches.
Nelson was a Penguins draft pick in 1989 and has certainly proven himself to be a better coach than he was a player.
He isn’t afraid to push for offense, which should appeal to the Penguins’ big names. AHL coaches often find success in the NHL, and the Penguins are the ultimate example of this.
Nelson is probably the most qualified AHL coach to become an NHL head coach. He is well-respected by veterans but also has a knack for developing young players.
He should be on anyone’s short list.
David Quinn
He’s a current Penguins assistant coach and the former head coach of the San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers.
Quinn, who is among Sullivan’s best friends, is eager to get another coaching job and would love to be Pittsburgh’s head coach.
Quinn did some magical work with the Penguins’ power play, helping to go from 31st to sixth in the NHL this season.
However, Quinn didn’t have as much success coaching the Penguins’ defensive core. The blue line was something of a disaster all season.
Mike Vellucci
A longtime Penguins assistant coach, Vellucci would seem to be an unlikely candidate because he’s been with Sullivan for so long. If the Penguins want a fresh approach from Sullivan, this would seem to be a bizarre choice.
Still, he needs to be mentioned because he’s highly regarded, familiar with the roster, and, like Quinn, is very highly regarded in coaching circles.
The Penguins’ big names are all fans of Vellucci.
(Photo of Rick Tocchet: Derek Cain / Getty Images)
