Nine NHL teams have a new coach. Here’s what to expect from the changes
Well, coach, let me start by asking you, uh, this is your first head coaching job in the AHL and every coach wants to develop *** culture when they come into ***, uh, an organization. What kind of culture do you want to build here in Pittsburgh? Yeah, I think it’s *** culture of excellence, daily excellence for me is number one. I mean, it’s. Yeah I think every organization in sports you’re always thinking about like what you wanna where you wanna go um but I think it’s the biggest thing for me is, you know, how are you gonna get there on *** day to day basis and so um if every day you can be getting *** little bit better at what we do, uh, every player individually every staff member, uh, every day is getting *** little bit better and then collectively as *** group we’re growing closer we’re, uh, becoming more connected. That’s happening every single day, um, you’re probably gonna put yourself in *** pretty good place and so that’s always been my focus, um, you know, there there’s everybody’s got long term goals and big long term goals, um, you know, but I think it, it comes back to, you know, what are we doing today, what are we doing today to get better and that that daily environment that you have to have, um, you know, having ***, ***, *** highly competitive environment. Having *** growth environment, um, those things are, are very important, um, and we’re gonna have that, you know, so that’s what we’re working to build out here. I remember during your press conference you were asked, do you have *** timetable as to where you want this team to be in 1 year, 2 years and 3 years, and you really didn’t answer the question, didn’t really give us *** timetable, but do you have one in your mind as to where this franchise should be in year 2 of your tenure to year 3? I mean, I think as you move along, you know, over time I think you, you, you get *** little clarity on that, um, I know we’re gonna have the starting point and, and I know we wanna be that foundation that we wanna, you know, work to have just, you know, even, you know, we’re working on that now and that that that’s happening right now, you know, over the summer and, and really *** lot of that will come, you know, during training camp and then you continue to build and, um, you know, for us it’s. We know where we’re looking to go. Uh, we’re looking to go back to where we’re contenders and it’s not just contenders, but we wanna be contenders for *** long time and so we know the base that we wanna have and how we’re gonna lay out that foundation, um, we have *** clear plan on how we wanna build, um, and then that’s where and that’s, that’s gonna be the process that we’re gonna have to get back to exactly where we wanna be being contenders and staying contenders. Three first round picks, 13 picks in all. Does that say where the direction of this team is? It’s coming from the youth and developing talent from within. It’s everybody in the organization. That’s where it’s coming from. I mean, it’s, it is. I mean, that’s *** big draft, you know, when you, when you see, when you saw all 13 in the room together, it’s like that is *** big draft, given the history of this franchise. You don’t see it too often. It was, uh, you know, you know what obviously is the drafts going on, but then, uh, I think the other day seeing all 13 in the locker room. I mean that’s, that’s *** lot of. That’s *** lot of players, you know, um. That’s and that’s, and that’s exciting, you know, that’s exciting, but it’s, uh, you don’t forget about, you know, there’s, there’s also some, I mean not just great amazing veteran players here, you know, um, you know, they, they have been doing it for *** long time and then and we got everything in between and so it’s it’s not one thing it’s, it’s every. Every member that that we have here at the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, it’s doing it together uh with everybody everybody that’s here before I ask you about those veteran players, uh, you’re known for developing young talent and right next door, the development camp is going on the future of the team. So what is your secret to developing talent? How do you take that young player and make them an NHL ready player? I mean, you, you’ve done it successfully, but how do you do it? I mean, one, everybody’s different like it’s every person that you work with in this game it’s gonna be *** little bit different and so there’s not ***, there’s not *** manual for, you know, how to get each person from one place to another like. You gotta get to know the person first and, and I think you got to identify and this isn’t just me, this is *** staff like any any place I’ve been it’s never been about me developing or working with somebody it’s always been the staff and the group and everybody um but it’s, you know, and I think from there it’s you, you look at the the ways that you know you’re gonna be able to number one work together, you know how that person, um, you know, is best served in terms of the, the learning, the motivation there’s *** lot of factors that go into it and and. And then you, you work to, to help that that player, uh, and work together with that player, um, to continue to build on those strengths that make them special in this game and every single player that’s at this development camp they’re here for *** reason so they all have things that have got them here to this point every player that’s drafted. That as something that got to that point and then every player that eventually gets to the NHL, they have something in their game that makes them special and so you continue to help them grow those things that make them special while continuing to work on areas of their game that they’re gonna need to to be able to work towards their full potential and like I said that’s gonna be different for almost every player and so to sit here and say that there’s one way of doing it, um. Yeah, it, it’s not, and you, and you gotta see too, like, uh, for every player it’s, it’s gonna be different ways of motivate. There’s different ways to learn and you just work through those different ways and again it’s, it’s working together as *** staff and there’s so many resources here. I mean that’s one of the things that’s so exciting. I mean you see you look out on the ice and you, you see the number of, you know, just. Um, you know, coaches from the development staff, from our Wilkes-Barre staff, from our wheeling staff, skating coach, it, it’s *** lot, and that’s, it’s good, but it’s, it’s also comes into, you know, how do we utilize all these different resources that are here. Not only ask about those veteran players, and I think during your press conference I asked you, you know, have you reached out to Sidney Crosby and to Chris Letang and some of the veterans, and I’m curious as to where they fit in in all this because this franchise is going through *** transition towards the future. Where they fit in is this team changes and grows and develops. Yeah, I mean, nothing changed in the sense that these are world class players and so it’s gonna be, you know, helping them. Continue to to be in the best place that they can possibly be and to have as much success as they can have on the ice and to put them in positions where the team can have success that doesn’t change like like at all, um, you know, like you got it’s gonna be for us now it’s gonna be, you know, helping to just, you know, get the most out of maximize the veteran players like like so that they can have they can continue to take steps everybody can continue to take steps in their game. Um, and, and all these guys, that’s what we’re gonna be looking to do is helping them, uh, to be able to do that and so that doesn’t change at all, and it’s, uh, it’s there’s some exciting players, you know, if you’re *** coach, you’re walking into the locker room with some, uh, you know, uh, with Sidney Crosby and, and Malkin and Letang and Carlson and I mean and Ross like these guys are exciting. That’s just naming some of them uh there’s other plenty of others that have done some great things in this league and so. I’m not we’re not treating that any differently, um, you know, like you’re you’re gonna keep having those conversations with those guys in terms of the things that they wanna continue to do the areas that they wanna continue to grow, um, yeah, and that’s and putting them in positions where they’re gonna be able to go out there and they’re gonna be able to be successful, not just for them but for the team and so, um, yeah, it’s it’s it’s exciting. Uh, to have players like that that you have an opportunity to work together with. So do you learn from them? Are there things that you can take as *** head coach from their experiences? Yeah, you can learn from anybody. Uh, you can, you can learn from young players too, you know, it’s like you can learn from, it’s as coaches, as people, we should be learning all the time. Um, you definitely can, you know, from the players that have been in this league for *** long time, and I think you gotta ask questions and you gotta, you gotta listen, um. That that for me is not changing though like my approach, my approach to that and my answer to that is not changing because you know I’m coming into *** position like this to be the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. I would have told you the same answer there, um, for any level that I’ve worked like you can learn from we should all be learning from each other like the players are out there they’re out there playing the game like they’re the they’re the ones that are in the arena playing the game and so like, you know, the, the perspective is always different than, um, you know, even from *** coach it is and. Um, at least that’s my belief and so like conversation should always be happening and listening should always be happening on both sides of it, uh, but I think if you, if you do, you can learn *** lot there when you’re talking to players and you can probably learn *** little more from the ones that have been doing it for as long as some of these guys have. What’s your working relationship with Kyle Dubis? How, how will that work between GM and head coach? Yeah, it’s been fantastic. Yeah, I mean, uh, Kyle and I didn’t know each other before this process started, but, um. I think obviously since I’m sitting here today, uh you know I think you know I think there’s obviously some more mindset in *** lot of areas. um, there’s some great conversations there about the game, uh, very clear in terms of, you know. Um, you know, him talking to me about the organization, um, and, you know, obviously I think because I’m here today it’s we’re aligned in *** lot of areas and excited about *** lot of the same areas and so, um, but it’s been great, you know, the, the conversations, you know, since, you know, going from that interview process to, you know, being here as the head coach, um, it’s, yeah, even exceeded my expectations. Uh, Alexa Delkovic was, was dealt early this week, uh, to San Jose, so. Does Tristan Jarri, is he cemented he is the number one guy on this hockey team and goalie. I think for everybody coming into training camp and you, you decide where all those things are. So, um, I mean, he, he has *** track record, obviously, you know, doing that and, and we are, we’re very excited about that, um, and so when you’ve done the things that he’s done in this league and listen. I am very aware of the ups and downs that occurred last year, um, but from my conversations with him I think he’s he’s got *** great approach going into the summer. Um, I think he’s got *** great plan going into the summer and and so I, I think, you know, based on my conversations, um, I think he’s gonna come in here with *** really good training camp and I think he’s gonna get *** great uh great start to the season and he has that track record and so. When you have that, yeah, but I say that in the sense of like you know I think for everybody that’s coming into, you know, every people have. You know they’re different starting points based on what they’ve done in the past. That’s just the reality of it. I think it’s like that in in every sport, um, but I do think it’s, it’s *** good thing and it’s *** healthy thing when players are coming in with the mindset that, you know, all right, even if this is where I was in the past. I’m gonna, I’m gonna re-earn things and I think when you have new coaching, uh, new coaching staff in place, it’s always *** good time to have that and, uh, and I think that’s not *** bad thing, and I think that’s something that even players, um, you know, they, they can they can like that. One final question, um, you’re the new head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Uh, Don Kelly is the manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mike Tomlin is the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and for the first time all three of our head coaches are bald. Um, is, does that say anything? Maybe, maybe that’s part of the reason why you guys are in leadership positions and just *** coincidence *** few good looking guys, you know. I don’t think that’s brought that to your attention. Oh, no, I guess it’s, I didn’t really think of it that way. Uh, yeah, so you can get into coaching too, and I, I was gonna ask, I mean, both guys, maybe you picked the wrong maybe you’re supposed to be *** coach, you know, like you can come in here and join the gang.
STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer
When Mike Sullivan’s time in Pittsburgh came to an end after nearly a decade behind the bench produced two Stanley Cup championships, he became the most-sought after coach on the market.With plenty of vacancies around the NHL, Sullivan had his pick of the litter. He landed with the New York Rangers, tasked with taking over an Original Six franchise that missed last season’s playoffs but is loaded with talent.Sullivan has coached Sidney Crosby and was picked by USA Hockey to lead the country at the upcoming Olympics in Milan. Starting this journey with the Rangers had him struggling to find a way to capture his emotions.“This is a new challenge for me,” Sullivan said. “It’s hard for me to express in words how excited I am about this challenge and about this opportunity.”Sullivan is one of nine coaches with a new challenge in front of him. A look at the changes for nearly a third of the league and what to expect:Mike Sullivan, RangersSullivan made trips over the summer to begin building personal relationships with his players. The 57-year-old from Massachusetts wanted to get to know players away from the rink and vice versa. When it comes to hockey, Sullivan’s straightforward approach is evident.“Obviously a good pedigree,” defenseman Carson Soucy said. “He’s intense, very detail-focused and he wants to win.”The Rangers haven’t won it all since 1994 but reached the Eastern Conference final in 2024.Joel Quenneville, DucksQuenneville is back in the league with Anaheim, four years since resigning from Florida in the wake of an investigation into Chicago’s 2010 sexual assault allegations. Quenneville said at his introductory news conference he understands those who question is return and will “demonstrate (by) my actions that I am a man of character.”The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup three times with Quenneville as their coach. Only Scotty Bowman has more NHL wins. “Just to have a voice like that behind the bench guiding and leading our team, we got a good mix of some veterans and some young guys, so I think it’s a great hire and I’m really, really excited to play for him,” winger Sam Colangelo said.Rick Tocchet, FlyersTocchet was nearly as prized as Sullivan after he decided not to renew his contract in Vancouver. Philadelphia is a homecoming of sorts for Tocchet, who played over 700 games in orange and black during separate stints.“Him being back in Philly and wanting to be there and picking us, his excitement for where we’re headed, I think it excites us as a team and kind of the growth that we’re about to take,” defenseman Travis Sanheim said. “He’s already a step ahead. He already knows the organization, the city, the fans and so I think that’s going benefit us moving forward.”Glen Gulutzan, StarsDallas fired Peter DeBoer following three consecutive trips to the West final. Pulling franchise goaltender Jake Oettinger in the series-deciding loss and his handling of it afterward played a part.“You never want to see anyone lose their job,” Oettinger said. “It’s a tough business and with how good we’ve been the last three years, it’s tough. … Looking forward to getting a fresh start.”That comes with Gulutzan, rehired 12 years after being fired by the Stars his first time around. Gulutzan the past seven seasons has been an assistant in Edmonton, where he ran the power play and earned praise from Connor McDavid for his communication skills.Marco Sturm, BruinsPlaying over 1,000 games in the NHL, coaching Germany at the Olympics and spending multiple years as a Los Angeles Kings assistant didn’t prepare Sturm for taking over in Boston. It took three full seasons running a bench with Ontario of the American Hockey League to be ready.“This is the time,” Sturm said. “Timing is everything. And I couldn’t end up in a better spot than Boston.”Jeff Blashill, BlackhawksConnor Bedard, the top pick in 2023, might finally have a long-term coach after Chicago fired Luke Richardson last December and played out the season with Anders Sorensen in an interim role. Blashill gets his second head-coaching job in the league after seven years with Detroit from 2015-22.“We’re excited to have him,” Bedard said. “He’s thrilled to be with us. He’s showing a ton of excitement.”Lane Lambert, KrakenDan Bylsma lasted one season in Seattle after he was promoted from the minors to replace Dave Hakstol. Lambert, fired in January 2024 by the New York Islanders, is tasked with getting the Kraken back to respectability.“He brings a structure, an emphasis on structure that we desperately need a little bit,” captain Jordan Eberle said.Dan Muse, PenguinsMuse, who was an assistant under former Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, takes over with Pittsburgh nearing a crossroads. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are still around but a youth movement is coming. Muse has caught players’ attention.“I came and grabbed dinner here at the rink,” Letang said. “When I left, I think it was 8 o’clock and he was still on his computer working on some stuff. So there you go. You see the passion that he has for the game and trying to work on every little detail to make us better and improve every single guy out there.”Adam Foote, CanucksTocchet’s exit opened a void for the Canucks, who would love to convince elite defenseman and captain Quinn Hughes to stick around beyond the end of his current contract in 2027. Hughes said he had his two best seasons with Foote, a former defenseman, as an assistant, but that guarantees nothing.“It’s different being a head coach,” Hughes said. “I’m sure there’s going to be challenges as a first-year head coach that he’s going face, just like anyone else would. But I think he’s prepared for it.”___AP Sports Writers Will Graves in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, and Jimmy Golen in Boston contributed.
When Mike Sullivan’s time in Pittsburgh came to an end after nearly a decade behind the bench produced two Stanley Cup championships, he became the most-sought after coach on the market.
With plenty of vacancies around the NHL, Sullivan had his pick of the litter. He landed with the New York Rangers, tasked with taking over an Original Six franchise that missed last season’s playoffs but is loaded with talent.
Sullivan has coached Sidney Crosby and was picked by USA Hockey to lead the country at the upcoming Olympics in Milan. Starting this journey with the Rangers had him struggling to find a way to capture his emotions.
“This is a new challenge for me,” Sullivan said. “It’s hard for me to express in words how excited I am about this challenge and about this opportunity.”
Sullivan is one of nine coaches with a new challenge in front of him. A look at the changes for nearly a third of the league and what to expect:
Mike Sullivan, Rangers
Sullivan made trips over the summer to begin building personal relationships with his players. The 57-year-old from Massachusetts wanted to get to know players away from the rink and vice versa. When it comes to hockey, Sullivan’s straightforward approach is evident.
“Obviously a good pedigree,” defenseman Carson Soucy said. “He’s intense, very detail-focused and he wants to win.”
The Rangers haven’t won it all since 1994 but reached the Eastern Conference final in 2024.
Joel Quenneville, Ducks
Quenneville is back in the league with Anaheim, four years since resigning from Florida in the wake of an investigation into Chicago’s 2010 sexual assault allegations. Quenneville said at his introductory news conference he understands those who question is return and will “demonstrate (by) my actions that I am a man of character.”
The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup three times with Quenneville as their coach. Only Scotty Bowman has more NHL wins.
“Just to have a voice like that behind the bench guiding and leading our team, we got a good mix of some veterans and some young guys, so I think it’s a great hire and I’m really, really excited to play for him,” winger Sam Colangelo said.
Rick Tocchet, Flyers
Tocchet was nearly as prized as Sullivan after he decided not to renew his contract in Vancouver. Philadelphia is a homecoming of sorts for Tocchet, who played over 700 games in orange and black during separate stints.
“Him being back in Philly and wanting to be there and picking us, his excitement for where we’re headed, I think it excites us as a team and kind of the growth that we’re about to take,” defenseman Travis Sanheim said. “He’s already a step ahead. He already knows the organization, the city, the fans and so I think that’s going benefit us moving forward.”
Glen Gulutzan, Stars
Dallas fired Peter DeBoer following three consecutive trips to the West final. Pulling franchise goaltender Jake Oettinger in the series-deciding loss and his handling of it afterward played a part.
“You never want to see anyone lose their job,” Oettinger said. “It’s a tough business and with how good we’ve been the last three years, it’s tough. … Looking forward to getting a fresh start.”
That comes with Gulutzan, rehired 12 years after being fired by the Stars his first time around. Gulutzan the past seven seasons has been an assistant in Edmonton, where he ran the power play and earned praise from Connor McDavid for his communication skills.
Marco Sturm, Bruins
Playing over 1,000 games in the NHL, coaching Germany at the Olympics and spending multiple years as a Los Angeles Kings assistant didn’t prepare Sturm for taking over in Boston. It took three full seasons running a bench with Ontario of the American Hockey League to be ready.
“This is the time,” Sturm said. “Timing is everything. And I couldn’t end up in a better spot than Boston.”
Jeff Blashill, Blackhawks
Connor Bedard, the top pick in 2023, might finally have a long-term coach after Chicago fired Luke Richardson last December and played out the season with Anders Sorensen in an interim role. Blashill gets his second head-coaching job in the league after seven years with Detroit from 2015-22.
“We’re excited to have him,” Bedard said. “He’s thrilled to be with us. He’s showing a ton of excitement.”
Lane Lambert, Kraken
Dan Bylsma lasted one season in Seattle after he was promoted from the minors to replace Dave Hakstol. Lambert, fired in January 2024 by the New York Islanders, is tasked with getting the Kraken back to respectability.
“He brings a structure, an emphasis on structure that we desperately need a little bit,” captain Jordan Eberle said.
Dan Muse, Penguins
Muse, who was an assistant under former Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, takes over with Pittsburgh nearing a crossroads. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are still around but a youth movement is coming. Muse has caught players’ attention.
“I came and grabbed dinner here at the rink,” Letang said. “When I left, I think it was 8 o’clock and he was still on his computer working on some stuff. So there you go. You see the passion that he has for the game and trying to work on every little detail to make us better and improve every single guy out there.”
Tocchet’s exit opened a void for the Canucks, who would love to convince elite defenseman and captain Quinn Hughes to stick around beyond the end of his current contract in 2027. Hughes said he had his two best seasons with Foote, a former defenseman, as an assistant, but that guarantees nothing.
“It’s different being a head coach,” Hughes said. “I’m sure there’s going to be challenges as a first-year head coach that he’s going face, just like anyone else would. But I think he’s prepared for it.”
___
AP Sports Writers Will Graves in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, and Jimmy Golen in Boston contributed.