Dan Muse, Pittsburgh Penguins
Dan Muse didn’t promise he would guide the Pittsburgh Penguins back to the playoffs right away when he was hired as coach last summer. But the team seems decidedly headed in that direction, sitting second in the Metropolitan Division during this Olympic break in the NHL schedule.
Muse didn’t point to a specific brand of Xs and Os then. But the team has a healthy plus-23 goal differential and ranks fourth in the NHL on the power play and third on the penalty kill.
He did make a pledge of sorts, however, a bottom-line view of what he expected to accomplish as a rookie NHL coach taking over a team comprised of a wide spectrum of players, from future Hall of Famers to promising prospects, and lots of guys somewhere between, including new faces.
“You have guys in different places in their careers. That’s very clear,” Muse said during his introductory press conference last June. “My job coming in here is going to be to help maximize each person, help each person work toward what their highest level can be right now.”
So has he followed through? Is he getting the most out of his players with what seems to be a style that focuses on teaching and on finding the right buttons to push? Certainly, it’s doubtful the Penguins would be sitting where they are without strong seasons from a lot of players.
Let’s dive into it.
Two caveats: We can’t overlook the contributions of president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas, whose moves provided several of the players who are having banner seasons. And we are going to exempt one player, Sidney Crosby, whose immense talent has been consistent for years and who has thrived under just about every coach he’s had at every level over the years, with the possible exception of short-lived Penguins boss Mike Johnston.
The Other Elites
A rookie head coach doesn’t always jibe with elite veterans, but with Muse behind the bench we’ve seen some resurgent play.
It starts with Evgeni Malkin. He has been limited by injury to 41 games – and the Penguins have to be hoping his shoulder injury will benefit from the Olympic break — but he has that gallop, that spark back. His 13 goals are just three shy of the 16 he scored last season. He’s a plus-13 after being a minus-24 last season. Certainly, playing for another contract, which would include his age 40 season in 2026-27, could be a motivating factor. But Malkin also seems to be thriving with the linemates Muse has given him – and consider that he even moved from center to the wing of late with full enthusiasm.
Defenseman Kris Letang, 38, who likewise is recuperating during the lull, having sustained a broken foot, still has some ups and downs, but he seems to have cut down on some of the glaring mistakes that sometimes come with making elite offensive moves. And, like Malkin, Letang seems to have benefited from the way Muse has aligned things. Most recently, Letang has found a good fit with Brett Kulak.
Then there’s defenseman Erik Karlsson, who in his first two seasons with the Penguins seemed like a shadow of the Norris Trophy winner the team thought it traded for. Karlsson seems strong and confident. His plus-minus has risen from minus-24 last season to plus-6 this season. One direct link to Muse’s coaching is the decision to pair Karlsson with Parker Wotherspoon back in training camp. Boy, is that working.
We’re going to throw top-line winger Bryan Rust in this group, too, because he continues to be one of the team’s best players with his blend of tenacity and skill, and under Muse has also become a top penalty-killer.
Youth Being Served
The shining example here is forward Ben Kindel, who was considered a stretch when Dubas drafted him 11th overall last summer but who, at 18, is already a solid NHL player and seems to be getting better by the week.
Defenseman Jack St. Ivany, who had had some trouble reaching a level of consistency, elevated his game but has been held back by injury.
Things aren’t as clear-cut with a few other rookies, including forward Rutger McGroarty and defenseman Harrison Brunicke, but there is no indication that their development has been stunted, just managed.
The Trending ‘Tending
Muse – and holdover goalie coach Andy Chiodo, a strong decision by Muse – couldn’t coax consistently elite play from Tristan Jarry, same as others before. But following Jarry’s trade to Edmonton, where he has struggled, return guy Stuart Skinner has fit in nicely.
Rookie Arturs Silovs seems to be finding the his game, too, outside of shootouts.
The Tweeners
Goodness, this is a telling category and group.
Dubas brought in, or brought back, several players who under Muse are having career years and/or have been put in roles where they can thrive after they sputtered some here or elsewhere.
That includes prolific towering wingers Anthony Mantha and Justin Brazeau; explosive newer addition Egor Chinakhov; solid center Tommy Novak; steady Wotherspoon, Kulak and fellow defenseman Ryan Shea; and the entire fourth line of Connor Dewar, Blake Lizzotte and Noel Acciari, who also are dogged penalty killers.
Even Ryan Graves, who just never fit in under former coach Mike Sullivan, has found an acceptable version of his game.
The Rare Exceptions
The biggest name here is winger Ville Koivunen, a prospect who showed high promise late last season but just hasn’t been able to establish himself at the NHL level this season. In a smaller sample size, defenseman Owen Pickering has not benefited from Muse’s oversight, either. Growing Pains? Something else? It’s unclear.
A couple others did not thrive under the Muse effect and have moved on, including forwards Phil Tomasino, Sam Poulin and Joona Koppanen.
That’s a pretty short list compared with the above success stories.
So has Muse lived up to his pledge? Looking like it so far.
Tags: Dan Muse Pittsburgh Penguins Shelly Anderson
Categorized:Pittsburgh Penguins