Who Gets More Credit For Penguins Turnaround? -

It wasn’t long ago that every preseason prediction had the Pittsburgh Penguins in last place or at the bottom of the standings. They were the one team everyone pinned as actively trying to lose, and the questions shifted to whether they’d break up the core and trade franchise icons like Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin.

Their 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night clinched them a spot in the playoffs. Better yet, the Penguins have the second-best record in the Metropolitan Division, something optimists didn’t see coming this season. When a season like this happens, it’s hard to credit one person for the turnaround, yet it wouldn’t shock anyone if Dan Muse wins the Jack Adams and Kyle Dubas wins the Jim Gregory. And frankly, they both deserve plenty of credit.

Muse Unlocked The Penguins Roster

Muse took over a roster that had a lot of the same from the past seasons. The difference is that he got the most out of it. Erik Karlsson, for example, never played the penalty kill but Muse let him do so, and it worked.

Karlsson is one of the many players with whom Muse connected this season. He didn’t try to force him into a box, and instead, let the skilled defenseman take over games the same way he did in his early years. The same is true about Anthony Mantha, Thomas Novak, and Egor Chinakov, three forwards who put together career years under Muse.

It’s a credit to Muse and his loose system. It’s also a credit to the staff Muse put together, which often goes unnoticed. One of the prominent assistants he brought in was Todd Nelson, a successful American Hockey League (AHL) coach who connected with players. Likewise, Nick Bonino was hired fresh out of the NHL, and like Nelson, he could connect and get the most out of the players. It’s possible Dubas was the one who assembled the staff but this is all a credit to the coaching staff and culture the head coach wanted.

The Under-The-Radar Dubas Moves

The hockey world is looking back at the tenure Kyle Dubas had in Toronto and realizing he might have been better than people thought, especially considering how the Maple Leafs look now. Dubas was hired by the Penguins in the 2023 offseason and has turned them into contenders within a few short seasons.

The Penguins were never in a lottery position to land generational talent (although the Ben Bindel selection turned out to be a home run). It required them to not only find under-the-radar players in free agency but also to develop prospects who could play over their weight. Prospects like Avery Hayes, Ville Koivunen, and Rutger McGoarty contributing throughout the season speak volumes.

Dubas took a chance on the players that everyone else was giving up on. Parker Wotherspoon and Ryan Shea are prime examples. The two defensemen took time to learn the position but have hit their strides with the Penguins to round out the defense. Arturs Silovs was seen as a good AHL goaltender but not someone who could start for an NHL team. Dubas acquired him for a fourth round pick from the Vancouver Canucks. Fast forward, and Silovs has started 37 games and given the team stability in the net.

The Awards Will Reflect Penguins Turnaround

The Jack Adams Award isn’t given to the best coach in the NHL. If that were the case, Jon Cooper or Jared Bednar would have a few of them at this point in their careers. It’s given to the coach who takes a team that wasn’t expected to be great and turns them around.

By that measurement, Muse is the frontrunner. Lindy Ruff will have a strong case, and so will Joel Qunnenvilee. However, the way the Penguins have overachieved reflects a great coaching job, which Muse has done.

The general manager (GM) award is trickier. The other GMs in the NHL vote on it, and many of them vote for who they respect the most, which explains how Jim Nill has won the award three times in a row. Under the theme of respect, Bill Guerin gained a lot of it for the Quinn Hughes trade and for building the USA Gold Medal team. That said, Dubas will get some consideration.

The Penguins put together an impressive season, and now, it’s hard to deny that it started at the top. Dubas and Muse moved the needle, and it put Sidney Crosby back in the playoffs with another chance at a Stanley Cup title, which is something the fans deserve.