PITTSBURGH — Dan Muse readily admits his playing resume, particularly his time on the ice, doesn`t align with that of a typical NHL head coach.
Yet, in a way, his years as a self-proclaimed “bad” forward at Division III Stonehill College, where he scored only five goals in 61 games, were crucial in paving the way that ultimately led him to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“That experience taught me the value of hard work,” Muse stated on Wednesday, a week after the Penguins named him as the successor to two-time Stanley Cup champion Mike Sullivan. “It taught me to never give up, to keep going, to ignore outside distractions, and always find a solution.”
Finding a way is precisely what Muse has consistently done over the past two decades, whether on the hockey rink, in a high school history classroom, or coaching lacrosse.
Beyond hockey, teaching seems to be Muse`s true calling. He is drawn to the challenge of unlocking someone`s potential – whether it`s a seasoned NHL All-Star, a developing 20-year-old prospect, or a student struggling in school.
That this calling led the 42-year-old to the pinnacle of a sport he`s loved his entire life is, in large part, a fortunate coincidence.
“It honestly doesn’t feel like I’ve worked a single day,” he commented.
Significant Influence
Perhaps, but there`s certainly plenty of work ahead in Pittsburgh, as the team attempts to navigate the final years of the Sidney Crosby era and transition into whatever comes next.
These future plans are still very much in the early stages of development. General manager Kyle Dubas has spent the last 15 months focused on acquiring as many draft picks and young prospects as possible. The Penguins hold 30 selections over the next three years, including 18 in the first three rounds.
Muse’s growing reputation as a coach skilled at maximizing players’ abilities makes him appear to be a good match for the Penguins` direction. However, Dubas emphasized that Muse`s talents extend beyond simply turning young, promising players into effective professionals.
“Dan has an extraordinary impact on everyone, whether they are a young player entering the league or a veteran trying to stay in it,” Dubas explained.
He will need to if he hopes for a long tenure in Pittsburgh, a team that has missed the playoffs for the past three consecutive seasons and hasn`t advanced past the first round since 2018. While long-time captain Crosby, who will be 38 this summer, remains one of the league`s most effective and dependable players, the Penguins have faced significant challenges defensively and in goaltending.
Dubas is seeking a lasting solution rather than a quick fix. Muse seems aligned with this approach, declining to set a specific timeline for when Pittsburgh might again be considered a genuine Stanley Cup contender. He stated only that the process will begin when the team convenes for training camp in September.
Muse mentioned that he has spoken with or reached out to “95 percent” of the players currently under contract for the upcoming season. At this stage, he`s prioritizing getting to know them rather than delving into specific tactical philosophies. That will come later.
Not Intimidated
Earlier in his coaching career, particularly when he joined Yale as an assistant in 2009, he worried his modest playing background would be a disadvantage. Now, the idea of creating game plans and asking future Hall of Famers like Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to execute them is not a concern.
“I’ve held almost every position imaginable,” said Muse, who spent the previous two years on Peter Laviolette’s staff with the New York Rangers. “Second assistant. First assistant. Video coach. Head coach at the junior level. Having the chance to work within two different NHL organizations and with such a variety of players has given me immense confidence in my ability to take on this role.”
This is significant territory for someone who grew up in a hockey-loving family but didn’t seriously start playing the game until age 11 while living in Alabama – not exactly a traditional hockey stronghold. Muse finds it hard to pinpoint exactly what drew him to the sport; he just always felt a connection to it. His parents nurtured this passion, and his dedication and work ethic did the rest.
Muse`s unconventional background is one of the main reasons Dubas was determined to open the coaching search to a wide range of candidates, not just those he already knew from his more than a decade in the NHL.
“Had we not gone through that comprehensive process and simply turned to someone I was familiar with, we wouldn’t have discovered the best coach for the Penguins,” Dubas asserted. “And that coach is Dan.”
In a league known for frequently recycling coaches, the bespectacled Muse, with his distinct New England accent, represents a fresh start. In a sense, the Penguins are beginning anew. Muse, who has won championships at every level he has coached outside the NHL, is just getting started in this latest challenge.
“I believe I will be a better coach and hopefully a better person a year from now than I am sitting here today,” he reflected. “That’s how it should be.”
