Coaching Changes Signal New Direction for Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins have begun making changes to their organization.
Midway through the 2023-24 season, Pittsburgh Penguins President/GM Kyle Dubas expressed his desire to bring more youth to the organization. The Penguins entered the year as the oldest team in the NHL, and their star players will all be over 34 when next season begins.
Dubas and the Penguins slowly shifted towards this younger framework, adding Ville Koivunen and Vasily Ponomarev at the NHL trade deadline. The Penguins also inked 2021 2nd-round pick Tristan Broz to a three-year entry-level deal following his NCAA National Championship victory.
The next question will be, who is going to develop them? The organization announced that they won't be re-signing AHL head coach J.D. Forrest or assistant coach Kevin Porter following the conclusion of the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins season over the weekend.
With a heavy focus expected to be placed on the AHL next season, Dubas and assistant GM Jason Spezza will look to bring in a new voice that pairs well with the young crop of prospects that will likely begin next season at that level.
The swift dismissal of the AHL staff brings into question the future of the Penguins NHL staff. It's been two weeks since the Penguins season ended, but no coaching moves have been announced.
Head coach Mike Sullivan is likely safe, but associate coach Todd Reirden and assistant coach Mike Vellucci remain under the microscope.
Dubas and the Penguins are signaling a change of direction for the organization, and AHL coaching changes may only be the beginning.
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