Penguins Fill Out Minor League Coaching Staff

A few weeks after the Pittsburgh Penguins announced an end to their affiliation with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL - and made their new ECHL squad the Florida Everblades, also run by new owners in the Hoffmann Family of Companies - they have officially filled out their organizational coaching staff as well. 

The full minor league coaching staffs were announced by GM and POHO Kyle Dubas Saturday, with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) Penguins largely retaining their AHL staff from last season and the Everblades keeping their staff from the pre-affiliation days with the Penguins. 

However, a few new additions were made, too. 

Below are the coaching staffs for each respective affiliate. An * indicates a new hire for the Penguins' organization:

Head coach: Kirk MacDonald 

Assistant coach: Brad Malone

Assistant coach: Nick Luukko

Assistant coach, development: Evan McFeeters (promoted from Wheeling)

Goaltending coach: Karel Popper (promoted from Wheeling)

Video coach: Ryan Lennon*

Manager of team services: Cedrik Cabana*

- This will be MacDonald's third season with WBS as the team's head coach, and he has led them to the Calder Cup Playoffs in the past two to go along with a regular season record of 86-41-14-3.

- Popper replaces former WBS goaltending coach Kain Tisi, who was in that position for both of MacDonald's first two seasons.

- Lennon (Kingston Frontenacs, OHL) and Cabana (QMJHL) both have CHL roots

Head coach/general manager: Brad Ralph*

Assistant coach: Kyle Mountain*

Goaltending/development coach: Anthony Butrico*

- Ralph is entering his 11th season behind the bench for Florida, with four of the last five seasons for the team ending in a Kelly Cup Championship. 

- Florida has won five division titles with Ralph at the helm.

- Both assistant coaches are returning for their second season with Florida.

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