NHL Insider Reveals Names Linked To Penguins Coaching Search

Rumors surrounding the Pittsburgh Penguins’ search for their next head coach have ramped up over the last week.

It’s already been leaked that the Penguins have spoken to Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love and Los Angeles Kings assistant coach D.J. Smith, per The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta. Several other names have emerged as being linked to the vacancy in Pittsburgh.

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Penguins have interviewed or are targeting interviews with several favorites for the job, he revealed on the SportsNet podcast “32 Thoughts.”

The Penguins have obtained permission and completed an interview with Boston Bruins assistant Jay Leach for their vacant head coaching job, per Friedman.

Leach has ties to the Penguins, as his first coaching job in North America was as an assistant with Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the 2015-16 season. The Bruins plucked him the following year for their AHL squad in Providence, and he’s remained in the Boston organization since, aside from a two-year stint with the Kraken as an assistant in their first two seasons in the league.

Friendman added that Penguins general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas has also considered promoting Pittsburgh assistant David Quinn to the head job and talked to former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft.

Quinn has the most experience as an NHL head coach of the candidates mentioned. The 58-year-old took an assistant role in Pittsburgh last summer after being fired by the Sharks. Quinn has a 137-185-50 (.435) record in 372 regular-season games as a head coach with San Jose and the New York Rangers since 2018.

This is the first mention of Woodcroft in connection with the Penguins vacancy. He’s reportedly been considered for two other jobs this summer — the Anaheim Ducks, who hired Joel Quenneville instead, and the Bruins. The 48-year-old had a 79-41-13 (.643) record over three seasons as bench boss in Edmonton.

The Penguins, Bruins, Seattle Kraken and Chicago Blackhawks are the four remaining teams searching for their next bench boss. Former Penguins coach Mike Sullivan signed with the Rangers just days after parting ways with Pittsburgh. The Vancouver Canucks hired Adam Foote, and the Philadelphia Flyers landed on Rick Tocchet.

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