After firing three assistant coaches last month, the Penguins yesterday announced the hiring of two former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coaches. Todd Reirden and Mike Vellucci will join Mike Sullivan’s staff. Reirden was fired by the Capitals in August after two years as head coach and four years as an assistant/associate coach. He’ll focus on the Penguins’ defensemen and power play unit. He was the coach of the Baby Pens from 2008 to 2010 before moving to Pittsburgh as an assistant until 2014. Vellucci was promoted from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach after one season and will focus on the forwards and penalty killing unit.
Coach Mike Sullivan says he is only getting to know Reirden, but he is aware of his strengths as a coach.
Sullivan says Velluci’s knowledge of the Penguins young players is going to be a great resource.
Sullivan says it’s not a coincidence that the Penguins always seem to look to Wilkes Barre for assets, and not just for players.
It was Sullivan’s first chance to talk about the trade which brought former Penguins top draft choice Kasperi Kapanen back to the team from Toronto. He says Kapanen will be a top-six forward who he expects will work well with the likes of Crosby and Malkin.
Todd Reirden returns to the Penguins organization he left when some of the Penguins’ core players were just getting started. He is especially looking forward to working again with Kris Letang.
Reirden knows he has a lot of talent to work with on the Penguins’ power play, but it’s been an under-performing group for the last few seasons and a big problem area in the playoffs. He says he thinks he can help.
Mike Velluci finally gets a chance to work with the Penguins elite talent up front. He says there is a lot to work with, with guys like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jake Guentzel, Kapanen, and others.
Goaltending coach Mike Buckley also signed to a two-year contract extension with the Penguins on Wednesday.
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