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Well Earned: Dan Muse Nominated for Jack Adams
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- Well Earned: Dan Muse Nominated for Jack Adams
Brad Penner-Imagn Images Brad Penner-Imagn Images
In his first season as an NHL coach, Pittsburgh Penguins bench boss Dan Muse made quite an impression on his team and the NHL.
Friday, the finalists for the Jack Adams award–the coach of the year–were announced, and Muse was in elite company as one of the three finalists. In addition to Muse, Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres and Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning .
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During clean out day Friday, Muse’s players heaped praise on him for his manner behind the scenes and how he guided the team.
“I think the first thing that strikes you when you meet him is the passion that he has for the game. And I’m kind of a guy that stays at the rink late, and he’s here even later than me, so it’s crazy the amount of work he puts in,” said Letang. “One other thing is communication with the players. I’ve never seen something like that. He really sits down with everybody, and he asked inputs, and he tells what he sees. And it’s been fun working with him.”
The Penguins smashed all expectations this season, finishing 41-25-16, in second place in the Metro Division and making their first playoff appearance since 2022. The season did not end well for the Penguins, who lost in six games in Round One to the Philadelphia Flyers .
Only one Penguins coach has ever won the award. Former Penguins coach Dan Bylsma won in 2011. Muse characteristically deferred most of the credit to the players.
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“When you get recognition for something like that, it really just shows — it’s a credit to the players, No. 1. So I don’t think any coach ever gets recognition if the team doesn’t play well on the ice,” said Muse. “These guys did a great job throughout the course of the year, continuing to take steps.”
Muse began his NHL coaching career in 2017-18 with the Nashville Predators under head coach Peter Laviolette after winning a USHL championship with the Chicago Steel. Muse spent three seasons under Laviolette in Nashville before returning to coach the US National Team Development team for several seasons before returning as an assistant for two seasons under Laviolette with the New York Rangers beginning in 2023-24.
“Also, the coaching staff as a whole,” Muse said. “My name’s on it, but I think it’s more of an organizational thing than anything else. Even people behind the scenes.”
The Jack Adams Award is voted on by the NHL Broadcasters Association.
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The post Well Earned: Dan Muse Nominated for Jack Adams appeared first on Pittsburgh Hockey Now .
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