Pens New Head Coach Thread

[Daniel]

I think the only coach who falls into the "NHL coaching retread" category that would have a chance is Tocchet. Though Quinn sort of falls into this category, I don't think we'll see him stick around unless the new coach specifically wants him. Right off the bat, we can exclude Laviolette, Tortorella, Quenneville, etc.

Gallant too. Stay away from him please. I do not want any retreads.

The only reason I’d be good with a guy like Gallant is if there is a succession plan. Get a young guy as an assistant coach, Gallant gets a 3 year contract to transition, young guy takes the reins with the next gen Penguins.

Otherwise, I’d rather get someone we’ve never heard of.

[Maestro]

This is a pretty good article about using the Capitals as a blueprint for a retool. It’s focus is Vancouver but the Pens would also fit;
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/633854 ... ughes-nhl/

[FLPensFan]

This is a pretty good article about using the Capitals as a blueprint for a retool. It’s focus is Vancouver but the Pens would also fit;
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/633854 ... ughes-nhl/

That first point really hits home with Florida, too:

--Hit Home Runs on with risky, out of favor players....Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Brandon Montour, Seth Jones, Sergei Bobrovsky, Niko Mikkola, Dmitri Kulikov. I think every one of these players was acquired because their old team didn't see them hitting their ceiling, or they had fallen off from their top end. All of them have thrived in Florida

Bennett, Reinhart, and Montour were all guys I was posting about non-stop, hoping our GMs at the time would make an offer. Could have changed things dramatically.

I believe Dubas has mentioned the Capitals as being a good model several times, which is why Mitch Love and Todd Nelson seem to be some of the early favorites for the HC job.

[Ohio_Pens_fan]

This is a pretty good article about using the Capitals as a blueprint for a retool. It’s focus is Vancouver but the Pens would also fit;
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/633854 ... ughes-nhl/

That first point really hits home with Florida, too:

--Hit Home Runs on with risky, out of favor players....Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Brandon Montour, Seth Jones, Sergei Bobrovsky, Niko Mikkola, Dmitri Kulikov. I think every one of these players was acquired because their old team didn't see them hitting their ceiling, or they had fallen off from their top end. All of them have thrived in Florida

Bennett, Reinhart, and Montour were all guys I was posting about non-stop, hoping our GMs at the time would make an offer. Could have changed things dramatically.

I believe Dubas has mentioned the Capitals as being a good model several times, which is why Mitch Love and Todd Nelson seem to be some of the early favorites for the HC job.

I can’t seem to find where Todd Nelson coached this past year. Any idea?

[Daniel]

This is a pretty good article about using the Capitals as a blueprint for a retool. It’s focus is Vancouver but the Pens would also fit;
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/633854 ... ughes-nhl/

That first point really hits home with Florida, too:

--Hit Home Runs on with risky, out of favor players....Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Brandon Montour, Seth Jones, Sergei Bobrovsky, Niko Mikkola, Dmitri Kulikov. I think every one of these players was acquired because their old team didn't see them hitting their ceiling, or they had fallen off from their top end. All of them have thrived in Florida

Bennett, Reinhart, and Montour were all guys I was posting about non-stop, hoping our GMs at the time would make an offer. Could have changed things dramatically.

I believe Dubas has mentioned the Capitals as being a good model several times, which is why Mitch Love and Todd Nelson seem to be some of the early favorites for the HC job.

I can’t seem to find where Todd Nelson coached this past year. Any idea?

Hershey Bears, the AHL affiliate of the Capitals.

[Daniel]

This is a pretty good article about using the Capitals as a blueprint for a retool. It’s focus is Vancouver but the Pens would also fit;
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/633854 ... ughes-nhl/

That first point really hits home with Florida, too:

--Hit Home Runs on with risky, out of favor players....Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Brandon Montour, Seth Jones, Sergei Bobrovsky, Niko Mikkola, Dmitri Kulikov. I think every one of these players was acquired because their old team didn't see them hitting their ceiling, or they had fallen off from their top end. All of them have thrived in Florida

Bennett, Reinhart, and Montour were all guys I was posting about non-stop, hoping our GMs at the time would make an offer. Could have changed things dramatically.

I believe Dubas has mentioned the Capitals as being a good model several times, which is why Mitch Love and Todd Nelson seem to be some of the early favorites for the HC job.

Can't put my finger on why, but I don't want Todd Nelson as Penguins HC. Yes he has success with Hershey, but I think some of it's inflated since they always have an older team for AHL standards and not quite a development team compared to years past. That part is what it is, but how much of the winning is due to Todd Nelson and how much of it is fielding a team of almost NHL players playing against young teams trying to develop players? Not saying he's horrible, just have my doubts.

[Maestro]

I didn’t know Mitch Love until this vote but from what I read sign me up, especially now that Carle is out.

[Maestro]

This is a pretty good article about using the Capitals as a blueprint for a retool. It’s focus is Vancouver but the Pens would also fit;
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/633854 ... ughes-nhl/

That first point really hits home with Florida, too:

--Hit Home Runs on with risky, out of favor players....Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Brandon Montour, Seth Jones, Sergei Bobrovsky, Niko Mikkola, Dmitri Kulikov. I think every one of these players was acquired because their old team didn't see them hitting their ceiling, or they had fallen off from their top end. All of them have thrived in Florida

Bennett, Reinhart, and Montour were all guys I was posting about non-stop, hoping our GMs at the time would make an offer. Could have changed things dramatically.

I believe Dubas has mentioned the Capitals as being a good model several times, which is why Mitch Love and Todd Nelson seem to be some of the early favorites for the HC job.

And beyond the nauseating blown 3rd period leads and his stubborn, at times visibly bitter, refusal to play youth (another point in the article), with all the gms and all the people who came in and out of the Ft. Pitt tunnel to play hockey, almost none of them played remotely well.
There has only been 1 constant.
Adieu MS

[Daniel]

This is a pretty good article about using the Capitals as a blueprint for a retool. It’s focus is Vancouver but the Pens would also fit;
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/633854 ... ughes-nhl/

That first point really hits home with Florida, too:

--Hit Home Runs on with risky, out of favor players....Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Carter Verhaeghe, Brandon Montour, Seth Jones, Sergei Bobrovsky, Niko Mikkola, Dmitri Kulikov. I think every one of these players was acquired because their old team didn't see them hitting their ceiling, or they had fallen off from their top end. All of them have thrived in Florida

Bennett, Reinhart, and Montour were all guys I was posting about non-stop, hoping our GMs at the time would make an offer. Could have changed things dramatically.

I believe Dubas has mentioned the Capitals as being a good model several times, which is why Mitch Love and Todd Nelson seem to be some of the early favorites for the HC job.

And beyond the nauseating blown 3rd period leads and his stubborn, at times visibly bitter, refusal to play youth (another point in the article), with all the gms and all the people who came in and out of the Ft. Pitt tunnel to play hockey, almost none of them played remotely well.
There has only been 1 constant.
Adieu MS

I wonder if a new coach will suspend the need to trade Graves and Jarry.

[Daniel]

I didn’t know Mitch Love until this vote but from what I read sign me up, especially now that Carle is out.

He played for the Johnstown Chiefs. Maybe they can hire him and play Hanson Brothers highlights during intermission.

[Gunnerfan]

I didn’t know Mitch Love until this vote but from what I read sign me up, especially now that Carle is out.

He played for the Johnstown Chiefs. Maybe they can hire him and play Hanson Brothers highlights during intermission.

I just looked at his career PIMs and I was all in. If you read his bio he’s seems to be the exact emotional leader this team now needs.

[Daniel]

I didn’t know Mitch Love until this vote but from what I read sign me up, especially now that Carle is out.

He played for the Johnstown Chiefs. Maybe they can hire him and play Hanson Brothers highlights during intermission.

I just looked at his career PIMs and I was all in. If you read his bio he’s seems to be the exact emotional leader this team now needs.

Not sure about system or the X's and O's side, but yeah seems like a good candidate for sure. I know Sullivan got pretty stale, but his system was pretty innovative when he came on board, or at least as innovative as can be with about 100 years of hockey, lol. He was good at the chess game for awhile.

[KG]

Not that he was ever an option to come here.

[largegarlic]

I wonder when we'll start to hear actual reporting or at least rumors on who the Pens have talked to. You have to think Dubas is already at least informally talking to candidates and seeing who is a possibility, even if things haven't progressed to formal interviews.

[Daniel]

I wonder when we'll start to hear actual reporting or at least rumors on who the Pens have talked to. You have to think Dubas is already at least informally talking to candidates and seeing who is a possibility, even if things haven't progressed to formal interviews.

After the NHL and AHLplayoff I'd imagine. Mitch Love is still coaching, Todd Nelson is still coaching. I'm sure a lot of his targets are coaching right now.

[Pitts]

I wonder when we'll start to hear actual reporting or at least rumors on who the Pens have talked to. You have to think Dubas is already at least informally talking to candidates and seeing who is a possibility, even if things haven't progressed to formal interviews.

After the NHL and AHLplayoff I'd imagine. Mitch Love is still coaching, Todd Nelson is still coaching. I'm sure a lot of his targets are coaching right now.

I read it is also complicated by Dubas spending the entire month at the Worlds. So, it may be a while before we start hearing anything of substance.

[Daniel]

I wonder when we'll start to hear actual reporting or at least rumors on who the Pens have talked to. You have to think Dubas is already at least informally talking to candidates and seeing who is a possibility, even if things haven't progressed to formal interviews.

After the NHL and AHLplayoff I'd imagine. Mitch Love is still coaching, Todd Nelson is still coaching. I'm sure a lot of his targets are coaching right now.

I read it is also complicated by Dubas spending the entire month at the Worlds. So, it may be a while before we start hearing anything of substance.

Other than an organizational system philosophy, there isn't a need for a coach anytime soon. Though he could use the worlds to talk to European coaches, at least informally.

[Pens4Life]

It would be good to have coach around draft..

[Skatingpen]

Washington did it the right way. Still mad about the Jakob Chychrun deal. I really wanted the Pens to try and get him when he was available. He has played phenomenal for the Caps

[Maestro]

I wonder if a new coach will suspend the need to trade Graves and Jarry./quote]

I think Graves is an ideal candidate to bounce back, especially if Love is the coach since he's known as a bit of a d-man whisperer (At least according to google AI ).

[FLPensFan]

Washington did it the right way. Still mad about the Jakob Chychrun deal. I really wanted the Pens to try and get him when he was available. He has played phenomenal for the Caps

I've said it before, but things might have gone a lot differently for this team if:

--Hextall ponied up for Chychrun; he was what the team really needed, not Karlsson
--Hextall let Kapanen walk
--Penguins kept ERod
--Penguins signed Strome; again, he was more of what the team needed...a solid 3C with more upside and some physicality
--Penguins went after Sam Bennett instead of Jeff Carter; again, Bennett had much more potential upside than an aging Carter
--Penguins went after Brandon Montour....imagine a defense with Chychrun-Letang, Pettersson-Montour as your top 4.

Chychrun is the only guy that would have cost us a 1st. Bennett and Montour went for 2nd round picks in different years. ERod was free to sign, Strome was free to sign.

[FLPensFan]

I wonder if a new coach will suspend the need to trade Graves and Jarry.

I think Graves is an ideal candidate to bounce back, especially if Love is the coach since he's known as a bit of a d-man whisperer (At least according to google AI ).

A new coach should know rather quickly if Graves is going to have a chance in their system, or struggle in it like he did in the Sullivan system.

EDIT: Adding something that Graves said to Taylor Haase during locker cleanout day, around his play and the system:

"We play fast," he said. "Like, sometimes, your outs are 30-40, feet away, whereas in Jersey, they were like five, six, seven, feet away. Everything was tight. I struggled in the difference in systems. And then once you lose your confidence, it can spiral. So it's been a process to get it back, and I'll keep working on it."

I don't think a coaching system can save Jarry. He needs to take accountability. A better defense in front of him may mask some issues, but he needs to figure it out. Or...he is who we thought he was.

[pekkasteele]

I wonder when we'll start to hear actual reporting or at least rumors on who the Pens have talked to. You have to think Dubas is already at least informally talking to candidates and seeing who is a possibility, even if things haven't progressed to formal interviews.

After the NHL and AHLplayoff I'd imagine. Mitch Love is still coaching, Todd Nelson is still coaching. I'm sure a lot of his targets are coaching right now.

I read it is also complicated by Dubas spending the entire month at the Worlds. So, it may be a while before we start hearing anything of substance.

Well he will have a chance to talk to Hallam at least! And I think Grönborg should be around to that I have seen mentioned.

[Daniel]

Washington did it the right way. Still mad about the Jakob Chychrun deal. I really wanted the Pens to try and get him when he was available. He has played phenomenal for the Caps

I've said it before, but things might have gone a lot differently for this team if:

--Hextall ponied up for Chychrun; he was what the team really needed, not Karlsson
--Hextall let Kapanen walk
--Penguins kept ERod
--Penguins signed Strome; again, he was more of what the team needed...a solid 3C with more upside and some physicality
--Penguins went after Sam Bennett instead of Jeff Carter; again, Bennett had much more potential upside than an aging Carter
--Penguins went after Brandon Montour....imagine a defense with Chychrun-Letang, Pettersson-Montour as your top 4.

Chychrun is the only guy that would have cost us a 1st. Bennett and Montour went for 2nd round picks in different years. ERod was free to sign, Strome was free to sign.

Ironic, those moves might have gotten the Penguins a cup at the expect of Florida and more success at the expense of the Capitals. Funny how small the line between a top 10 pick and a late 20s pick.

[Daniel]

I wonder if a new coach will suspend the need to trade Graves and Jarry.

I think Graves is an ideal candidate to bounce back, especially if Love is the coach since he's known as a bit of a d-man whisperer (At least according to google AI ).

A new coach should know rather quickly if Graves is going to have a chance in their system, or struggle in it like he did in the Sullivan system.

EDIT: Adding something that Graves said to Taylor Haase during locker cleanout day, around his play and the system:

"We play fast," he said. "Like, sometimes, your outs are 30-40, feet away, whereas in Jersey, they were like five, six, seven, feet away. Everything was tight. I struggled in the difference in systems. And then once you lose your confidence, it can spiral. So it's been a process to get it back, and I'll keep working on it."

I don't think a coaching system can save Jarry. He needs to take accountability. A better defense in front of him may mask some issues, but he needs to figure it out. Or...he is who we thought he was.

Coaching it's just X's and O's. Maybe a new coach can get through to him that he needs to take ownership.