The Vatican Conclave to elect a new pope has officially concluded, but there are other conclaves generating buzz around the National Hockey League.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are one of six teams in search of a new head coach, and with a wide pool of options to choose from, the NHL coaching conclaves should be interesting to follow.
But as for the Penguins specifically, who should be annointed the new bench boss?Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas wants to put a focus on development, and with highly coveted David Carle out of the picture, there are still some good names out there who aren't exactly NHL re-treads, either.
Here are five Cardinals - erm, candidates - who should top the list during the Penguins' coaching conclave.
Todd Nelson
We've discussed Nelson as a possibility before, and without Carle in the running, he should be the name at or near the top of the candidacy.
Nelson is currently the head coach of the AHL's Hershey Bears, which is the affiliate of the Washington Capitals. He was hired prior to the 2022-23 season and immediately led the team to back-to-back Calder Cup championships - with, potentially, a third on the way, as the Bears won the Atlantic Division title and are currently battling Lehigh Valley in a five-game divisional semifinal series.
At the AHL level, he has also coached the Chicago Wolves and Grand Rapids Griffins. He also has some experience at the NHL level with now-defunct Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, and Edmonton Oilers.
Oh, and Nelson was drafted by the Penguins in 1989, appearing in only one NHL game with the organization. But, hey, that's some prior experience nonetheless.
Jay Woodcroft
Even if a "re-tread" isn't the most desirable option, experience is important.
And, honestly, Woodcroft is barely a re-tread, anyway. In February 2022, Woodcroft was promoted from the Bakersfield Condors to become the interim head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, and he led them to the Western Conference Finals. He then led the Oilers to a 50-23-9 finish the following season before getting shown the door - perhaps, prematurely - after a rough start to the 2023-24 season.
He's been out of the picture since then - at least, aside from some international experience with Team Canada as an assistant coach at Worlds in 2024 - but his work with young players is well-respected, and he was also well-liked in the Edmonton locker room.
He was passed on for the Anaheim Ducks' coaching vacancy despite getting interviewed, so it's entirely possible that he is already in the mix for other teams as well.
Highly Coveted Coach Officially Out Of Running For Penguins' JobAfter the Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways with former head coach Mike Sullivan last week, Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas gave some hints as to the type of coach they might be looking for to replace him.
Mitch Love
Another Capitals connection, Love, 40, has a great track record in developmental leagues and helped aid Washington to the best regular season finish in the Eastern Conference this season as their defensive coach.
He started coaching as an assistant in 2011 with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and was there until 2018, when he moved on to the Saskatoon Blades as a head coach. He led the Blades to the playoffs in his first season and put together a .665 win percentage in his three seasons there.
After that, he was brought on as head coach of the Stockton Heat, which was the Calgary Flames' AHL affiliate before they relocated and became the Calgary Wranglers. He led the team to the ninth-best finish in AHL history during his first season and won back-to-back coach of the year awards in 2023 and 2024.
Love has the winning track record - and the reputation in developmental leagues and with young players - to be a prime choice for the Penguins' conclave.
Jessica Campbell
Campbell, who made history this season as the first woman to be behind the bench of an NHL team, is another candidate who has climbed the ranks of developmental leagues.
After a successful playing career on the collegiate, professional, and international stages, she ran JC Powerskating and worked with NHL player and Olympic clientele. She then moved on to become an assistant coach for the Nurnberg Ice Tigers of the German's premier ice hockey league, Deutsche Eishockey Liga, and she was also an assistant for the German men's national team.
Campbell was then brought on as an assistant coach for the Coachella Valley Firebirds - AHL affiliate of the Seattle Kraken - in 2022 before being promoted to an NHL assistant for the Kraken prior to the 2024-25 season.
Campbell's specialization in development, work with young players, and diverse resume should give her some consideration for the Penguins' head coaching position, should she choose to pursue the opportunity despite getting retained as an assistant in Seattle.
Kraken Retaining Jessica Campbell Shows Faith In Early Positive SignsThe Seattle Kraken parted ways with Dan Bylsma after just one season as the head coach, and while many thought Jessica Campbell may have followed, the organization is rewarding her with another season after some early positive returns.
Mike Hastings
Another name we've already thrown out there, Hastings has all the makings of the kind of developmental track record Dubas and the rest of his staff should be looking for.
No, he doesn't have any NHL coaching experience - unlike everyone else on this list - but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Hastings began his coaching and management career in the USHL program, which he helped bolster as a whole significantly during his 14-year tenure as a head coach and general manager there - winning USHL Coach of the Year twice for the Omaha City Lancers and General Manager of the Year five times.
He then went on to coach in the NCAA, helming the Minnesota State Mavericks for more than a decade and leading them to the Frozen Four in 2021. He was also named an assistant coach for the 2022 U.S. Men's Olympic team before the NHL backed out of the games.
Now - having been with the Wisconsin Badgers for the last two seasons - Hastings has earned a stay at the NHL level, and his "self made-ness" should interest Dubas and the Penguins in their search for the organization's next Po - erm, coach - to oversee the team through their rebuild onward to contention.
8 Possible Replacements For Mike Sullivan As Penguins Head CoachWith the shocking news that the Pittsburgh Penguins and longtime coach Mike Sullivan have mutually agreed to part ways, it comes as no surprise that one of the first talking points is who will be the one replace him.
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