Penguins Make Changes to AHL Coaching Staff
The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced they will not renew the contracts of multiple AHL coaches.
PITTSBURGH – Following their early exit from the Calder Cup Playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they will not renew the contracts of multiple Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins coaches. Head coach J.D. Forrest and assistant Kevin Porter will not return to the organization.
In a release from the Penguins, assistant general manager Jason Spezza will lead the search for a new head coach in WBS.
“Today’s decisions were not easy and we are grateful to J.D. and Kevin for their dedication and hard work over the past eight and four years, respectively,” Spezza said. “Both are good coaches and most importantly, excellent people. These decisions come after taking the season to fully evaluate our minor league and development systems.”
When Kyle Dubas arrived as the Penguins president and general manager, he made it a point to improve the farm system. That starts with the AHL affiliate and their success. The Penguins front office was hopeful they had a deep playoff run ahead of them to survey what they may have in key prospects in the organization.
“As we enter into an era where each of those systems operating at an elite level becomes paramount to the future of our entire program, we felt it would be best to take this time to make the changes that our management team deems important to reaching our goal of having Wilkes-Barre become the premiere developer of players and staff that can help the Pittsburgh Penguins win Stanley Cups.”
The Penguins state that more changes are likely coming to the WBS coaching staff, but announcements be made after a new head coach is hired.
Forrest spent eight years with the Penguins organization and the last four as head coach of the Wikes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
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