The Pittsburgh Penguins have recently named Dan Muse as the team’s 23rd head coach in franchise history. This marks Muse’s first opportunity as an NHL head coach. As the Penguins’ new head coach, Muse will take over from Mike Sullivan, who parted ways with the team after the 2023 season and later joined the New York Rangers.
Dan Muse’s Appointment and His Background
Dan Muse’s appointment as head coach is also significant as it represents Kyle Dubas’ first major hire since becoming the Penguins’ GM and president of hockey operations. Dubas expressed confidence in Muse’s abilities, stating that despite meeting with several candidates, Muse stood out for his experience and track record.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dan to Pittsburgh,” Dubas shared in a statement. “He has demonstrated a great ability to develop players and has consistently won at every level he’s coached. His success with special teams in the NHL was a standout quality for us as we made this decision.”
Coaching Experience in the NHL
Before being named the Penguins’ head coach, Muse served as an assistant coach for the New York Rangers for the past two seasons. Additionally, Muse spent time with the Nashville Predators as an assistant coach between 2017 and 2020. During his time with both teams, Muse contributed to multiple achievements, including three division titles.
While with the Predators, Muse helped secure two Central Division titles (2017-18 and 2018-19). He also played a key role in Nashville’s Presidents’ Trophy win in 2018. With the Rangers, Muse was part of their division-leading team in 2024 and their Presidents’ Trophy win that same year.
Special Teams Expertise
A key strength of Dan Muse’s coaching resume is his expertise in managing special teams. As the head of the penalty kill for both the Rangers and Predators, Muse helped produce strong results. Although the Rangers finished 22nd in the league in the 2023-24 season, they boasted the 11th-best penalty-kill percentage. The previous season, the Rangers had the third-best penalty kill in the NHL. Similarly, during Nashville’s 2017-18 season, the team finished with the sixth-best penalty kill in the league.
Kyle Dubas highlighted Muse’s ability to lead successful special teams units at the NHL level, saying, “His leadership of special teams in both Nashville and New York delivered elite results consistently.”
Previous Head Coaching Success
Though this is Muse’s first NHL head coaching role, he has experience as a head coach at lower levels. He previously coached the U-17 and U-18 teams of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. Under his leadership, the U-18 team won a gold medal at the 2022-23 World Junior Championship. He also led the U-17 team to a USHL title in the 2016-17 season.
Looking Ahead to the Future
At 42 years old, Dan Muse is eager to take on the challenges of being an NHL head coach and help the Penguins build on their legacy. With his wealth of experience and proven track record, both in player development and special teams, he is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of the Penguins.
“We are excited to welcome Dan and his family to Pittsburgh,” said Dubas. “We believe his leadership and vision will take this team to new heights.”
Muse’s leadership, along with his experience in coaching special teams and guiding talented players, makes him a promising addition to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ coaching staff. Fans are eagerly awaiting what the future holds with Muse at the helm.
