Two NHL Assistants Emerge In Penguins Coaching Search

The Penguins and Kyle Dubas are under pressure to decide who will lead the franchise behind the bench next season.

The Stanley Cup playoffs haven’t reached the halfway point. Still, the Penguins are already weeks into their offseason, and are one of four teams without a head coach. The Boston Bruins, Seattle Kraken and Chicago Blackhawks are the other three clubs.

Former Penguins coach Mike Sullivan signed with the New York Rangers just days after parting ways with Pittsburgh. The Vancouver Canucks hired Adam Foote, the Anaheim Ducks brought on Joel Quenneville, and the Philadelphia Flyers landed on Rick Tocchet.

Even with Dubas in Sweden serving as Team Canada’s general manager in the IIHF World Championship, two names have emerged as top candidates to replace Sullivan at the helm.

According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period the Penguins have spoken to Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love and Los Angeles Kings assistant coach D.J. Smith.

Love joined the Capitals as their defensive coach prior to the 2024-25 season and helped lead Washington to the best finish in the Eastern Conference at 51-22-9. He spent the first part of his coaching career in different capacities in the WHL before becoming the head coach of the Calgary Flames’ AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat, beginning with the 2021-22 season. After capturing the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award as the league’s most outstanding coach in back-to-back seasons, Love joined the Capitals.

Smith’s record during his four and a half years as head coach of the Ottawa Senators wasn’t exactly Jack Adams material. In 317 total games with Ottawa, Smith was 131-154-32 with a .464 win percentage. Before joining Ottawa, he was an assistant coach with the Maple Leafs for four seasons and is familiar with Dubas, who was Toronto’s GM during that time.

Penguins assistant coach Mike Vellucci has reportedly interviewed for the vacancy as well, according to The Fourth Period.

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