The Pittsburgh Penguins might see some change behind the bench, but not with Mike Sullivan.

While Mike Sullivan’s job behind the Pittsburgh Penguins bench is safe, that doesn’t mean there won’t be changes within the coaching staff.

Penguins’ assistant coach Mike Vellucci is reportedly among the candidates for the vacant head coaching job with the Anaheim Ducks.

According to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, Vellucci is among the three names he was able to confirm out of an astronomical 468.

With that many candidates, the competition might be a bit stiff.

Just before the start of the 2022-23 season, Vellucci signed a two-year contract extension with the Penguins.

Vellucci has spent the last three seasons as an assistant in Pittsburgh and has never been a head coach in the NHL.

Despite never working as an NHL head coach, Vellucci does have an extensive resume from the AHL as well as front office experience with the Carolina Hurricanes.

During his time with the Hurricanes, Vellucci worked as their assistant general manager and director of player development; he was later named the head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.

In 2019, Vellucci won the AHL’s Coach of the Year Award as he led the Checkers to a Calder Cup Championship.

With the Penguins, Vellucci’s duties were focused on the offense and penalty kill; in 2022-23 the PK finished at 79.09%, 16^th in the NHL.

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