The hiring of David Quinn is an investment in the Penguins' future.

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins have filled their vacant assistant coach role, with David Quinn set to join Mike Sullivan's staff. Quinn replaces Todd Reirden, hoping to improve the team's defense. Quinn is also here to help usher this team into the next phase of Kyle Dubas

The move is already being met with mixed reviews. The immediate criticism is that is a friendly hire, not a merit-based one.

Sullivan and Quinn have quite the history together. They attended Boston University together and have been friends for years. When they coached against each other, the two were always extremely complimentary of one another. 

While the familiarity between the two couldn't hurt, this isn't some sort of scandalous hire by the Pens. Quinn has a history of succeeding in the areas the Penguins failed last season, and that's the reason Sully and Dubas want him on the staff.

Firstly, he has a track record of getting the most out of defensemen. Just ask Penguins defensemen Erik Karlsson. Karlsson played under Quinn in San Jose during the 2022-23 season. It was one of the best of his career, registering 101 points en route to his third Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defensemen. 

A huge component of that 100-point campaign was Karlsson's impact with the man advantage, which is also the second reason Quinn is joining the team. Karlsson registered 27 power play points that season, and while the team around him was an unmitigated mess, Karlsson's performance was a bright spot. 

The Penguins stated that Quinn will oversee the defensive groups, but they are hopeful Quinn could help Karlsson and the Pens find some man advantage success. The team has floundered over the past few seasons, with no combinations or strategies paying off. A growth of confidence from Karlsson may be just what the doctor ordered for the power play. 

Lastly, the hiring of Quinn is an investment in the youth in Pittsburgh. Before leaping to the NHL, Quinn was a head coach at the University of Boston for five years. During his time there, he had a huge hand in the development of players like Jack Eichel, Charlie McAvoy, and Clayton Keller. He's demonstrated a strong ability to connect with and teach younger players, which will be instrumental for the Penguins over the next few seasons. 

All in all, Quinn may look like a simple hire on the surface, but it's far more than that. He's here to help Sullivan keep this declining Penguins team steady while simultaneously helping the next wave develop into NHL players. He's here to fill the void Reirden left, sure, but he's also here to keep Sullivan and the Penguins on track according to Dubas' vision. 

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