Pittsburgh, the decision was made to terminate the employment of assistant coach Todd Reirden, a move that occurred slightly more than two weeks after the Penguins failed to secure a playoff berth for the second consecutive season.
Reirden’s primary responsibility was overseeing the team’s power play strategy. Despite possessing a formidable lineup featuring star players such as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson, the Penguins encountered significant challenges while on the power play throughout the season. Their conversion rate on power play opportunities stood at a mere 15%, positioning them at the 30th spot out of 32 teams in the NHL.
General Manager Kyle Dubas, along with head coach Mike Sullivan, engaged in a comprehensive assessment of the coaching staff over the preceding two weeks. Despite acknowledging the difficulty of such decisions, Dubas affirmed that the dismissal of Reirden was deemed necessary for the team’s future success.
This development marks the conclusion of Reirden’s second tenure with the Penguins. Previously, he had served as an assistant coach for the team from 2010 to 2014 before departing for a coaching role with the Washington Capitals. Following a two-year stint as head coach of the Capitals from 2018 to 2020, Reirden returned to Pittsburgh before his recent termination.