After more than a month of searching, the Pittsburgh Penguins have finally named a successor to Mike Sullivan behind the bench.
On Wednesday, the Penguins named Dan Muse the 23rd head coach in team history. Muse had been an assistant coach for the New York Rangers - who hired Mike Sullivan as their new head coach on May 2 - for the past two seasons from 2023-25.
Previously, he had an assistant coaching gig with the Nashville Predators from 2017-20. In both stints, he was primarily responsible for running the penatly kill units - which were both top-five units during his tenure.
“During this process, we met with many candidates who we felt would have been a fit as the next head coach of the Penguins, but ultimately, Dan Muse stood out as the best choice," Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas released in a statement. "What separated Dan was his ability to develop players, win at all levels where he has been a head coach, and his consistent success coaching special teams in the NHL. From his success in developing college and junior players, to his impactful work with veteran players during his time in the NHL, Dan has shown a proven ability to connect with players at all stages of their careers and help them to reach their potential.
“Additionally, his leadership of special teams units at the NHL level in both Nashville and New York produced elite results consistently. His overall body of work, attention to detail and vision for our group showed us that he is the best coach to take our team forward. We’re excited to welcome Dan, and his family, to the city of Pittsburgh.”
Welcome to Pittsburgh, Dan Muse!
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) June 4, 2025
Details: https://t.co/5Dnommr9efpic.twitter.com/gW8CN40gmf
Muse, 42, first stepped into the coaching realm at a higher level as an assistant for the Yale University men's ice hockey team from 2009-14. From there, he became heavily involved in USA Hockey, coaching the Chicago Steel of the USHL from 2015-17 and for the National Team Development Program (NTDP) from 2020-23. The 2023 Under-18 World Championship team won the gold medal with him at the helm.
He also has ties to Penguins' forward prospect Rutger McGroarty, who he had coached as part of the USNTDP program.
More details on the hire to come.
Former Penguins' Assistant Joins Blackhawks' Coaching StaffIt appears that Mike Sullivan - who departed as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins on Apr. 28 and subsequently joined the New York Rangers as their new bench boss - isn't the only former Penguins' coach to land a new gig for the 2025-26 season.
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Photo Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel - Imagn Images
Professional golfer Rory McIlroy still believes the Toronto Maple Leafs can win the Stanley Cup.
The 36-year-old is at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Alton, Ontario, for the RBC Canadian Open, which begins on Thursday. McIlroy, who won the 2025 Masters, was joined by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment President and CEO Keith Pelley on Wednesday for the tournament's Pro-Am.
Following their round of golf, Pelley gifted McIlroy a Maple Leafs jersey with his last name on the back. The PGA and European Tour golfer knows Pelley from when the 61-year-old served as president of the PGA European Tour from 2015 to 2024.
"If I can win the Masters," McIlroy said on Wednesday via TSN's Bob Weeks, "then the Leafs can win the Stanley Cup."
McIlroy has won the RBC Canadian Open twice, in 2019 and 2022.
Report: Maple Leafs Could Target Bruins Interim Head Coach Joe Sacco To Fill Lane Lambert's Vacated RoleThe Toronto Maple Leafs could be after another coach to join their bench after associate coach Lane Lambert's departure.
This isn't the first time the former world number-one has weighed in on the Maple Leafs. Following his final round at the tournament last spring, McIlroy hoped Toronto could get closer to its goal of winning the Stanley Cup in 2025.
"I don’t know much about the Leafs, I had dinner with someone that’s pretty intimately involved a few nights ago, so sounds like they’re making some changes this off-season," McIlroy told the Toronto Sun, "and hopefully that’s the catalyst to hopefully that’s the catalyst to making a run in the playoffs and maybe getting that Stanley Cup."
Under new head coach Craig Berube, the Maple Leafs won their first Atlantic Division title since its inception in 2013. Toronto eliminated the Ottawa Senators in six games before being ousted in seven games by the Florida Panthers in round two.
Tanev, Gourde Contracts And Deferred Money Provide A Blueprint For Maple Leafs To Re-Sign John TavaresJohn Tavares wants to stay in Toronto. The former Maple Leafs captain made that clear when speaking to reporters shortly after his team was eliminated in the second round at the hands of the three-time defending Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers. This desire, coupled with the Maple Leafs' cap constraints, begs the question: How can both sides find common ground? Reportedly, the Maple Leafs would welcome him back, but not at the hefty $11 million per season salary cap hit that came with his first contract in Toronto. Recent contracts signed by other players offer a compelling glimpse into potential solutions.
It's the furthest the Maple Leafs have gone in the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2002, when they beat out the New York Islanders and Senators to advance to the Eastern Conference Final. Toronto lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in six games, ending their Stanley Cup hopes that year.
There's a lot of uncertainty around the Maple Leafs entering this offseason. Mitch Marner and John Tavares are unrestricted free agents, while Matthew Knies is a restricted free agent. Tavares and Knies have expressed their desire to remain in Toronto, but Marner, who's had several chances to say he wants to remain a Maple Leaf, hasn't done so.
Former Maple Leafs Defenseman Mark Giordano To Coach NHL Top Prospect Matthew SchaeferMark Giordano has been busy since last playing in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Meanwhile, Toronto GM Brad Treliving said in his season-ending media availability that the team's DNA needs to change.
"I don't believe that you have to go and change 20 players, right? It's not always about that. It's what can we do to help our guys? What can we do to find guys that can help?" Treliving said.
"If there is change that we need to make with the team, how do we bring people in that have a mindset like that? But it's those big moments of really embracing it, but finding a way, whatever that way is, to get through it and have success."
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On Wednesday, former New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson inked a three-year extension with the Colorado Avalanche. The AAV is $7.75 million.
Brock staying in COL. https://t.co/2JO5iSkpvF
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) June 4, 2025
The 34-year-old, along with prospect William Dufour, was shipped to Colorado ahead of the 2025 NHL Trade in exchange for forward prospect Calum Ritchie, Colorado's 2026 first-round pick, Colorado's 2028 third-round pick (conditions not met) and defenseman Oliver Kylington.
The Islanders traded Kylington to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations.
The Islanders were believed to have offered Nelson the same deal he signed in Colorado.
I had heard that before the deadline, Lamoriello spoke with Nelson about possibly signing with #Isles this summer, regardless of where he went at the trade deadline. Obviously, with Lou being out, that certainly impacted things.
Nelson had 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 19 regular season games with the Avalanche before just four assists in their seven-game series loss to the Dallas Stars.
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When it comes to experience at playing hockey in June, the Florida Panthers have more than enough to go around.
Over the past three postseasons, the Panthers have reached the Stanley Cup Final in each year.
A badly injured Panthers squad lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in 2023, then Florida’s redemption arc came full circle when they defeated the Edmonton Oilers in seven games last year.
Now the Cats are back in the Final, once again facing the Oilers, in a series that begins on Wednesday night in Edmonton.
Being in these situations before, Florida’s players have learned the best ways to stay relaxed and focused on the task at hand without letting the pressure of the Final get in their heads.
One of those ways is by playing poker, a game many of Florida’s players will take part in during their team flights around the continent.
Apparently, as was revealed during Stanley Cup Final media day, the Panthers had quite a game going on their long flight to Edmonton this week.
“We had a poker game going. I don't know if you heard about it, but it gets pretty intense,” said Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe. “(The) chips are flying.”
It’s no surprise that highly competitive hockey players can really get into their poker games.
As intense and contentious a good poker game can be, when its among good friends, they can be some of the best times ever.
“We played some poker, I lost a little bit of money today, which wasn't great, but we've got some long flights ahead of us to get it back,” Panthers center Sam Bennett said with a smile.
Based off several accounts, it sounds like one of the newest members of Florida’s rat pack had the best game on the flight out west.
“Yeah, I might’ve cleaned up,” smirked Panthers forward Brad Marchand. “The IRS might be coming after me after this one.”
“Marchy had a good trip,” added Verhaeghe. “I had a bad trip today, unfortunately. (It was) pretty bad. That's the thing with poker., it's just happens. Sometimes you can't do anything about it.”
Perhaps that’s true, but only until the next poker game.
The Panthers will be in Edmonton for a few days this week, then on Saturday they’ll board a plane for the long, cross-continent flight back to South Florida.
Will Bennett and Verhaeghe exact revenge on Marchand and earn some of their money back? We’ll have to wait and see, but according to Bennett, it wouldn’t be the first time.
“If you asked him about a week ago, he didn't do so well then,” said Bennett.
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Photo caption: May 14, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (9) gets congratulated after a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period of game five of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)