Penguins Bringing Back Todd Reirden, Also Hire Mike Vellucci To Fill Assistant Coaching Spots
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Todd Reirden is coming back for his second stint as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Reirden, a Deerfield, Illinois, was just fired by the Washington Capitals. He spent six seasons with the Caps' coaching staff, including when they wond the Stanley Cup in 2018. He served as head coach for the past two seasons.
Reirden was an assistant coach with the Penguins from 2010-2014. He will once again oversee the team's defense.
The Penguins are also bringing Mike Vellucci up as an assistant coach. He just completed his first season as the general manager and head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
He will oversee the team's forwards and penalty kill.
Penguins General Manager Jim Rutherford said, "I am pleased to add Todd and Mike to our coaching staff, and believe they will compliment Mike Sullivan's coaching style. Todd is a Stanley Cup winning coach with a decade of NHL experience as both an assistant and head coach. Mike brings championship experience at both the AHL and OHL level, and is very familiar with how we function as an organization."
The Penguins have also signed goaltending coach Mike Buckley to a two-year contract extension. It will keep him with the team until the conclusion of the 2021-22 campaign.
The Penguins have named Todd Reirden and Mike Vellucci assistant coaches.
Reirden, 49, will oversee the team's defensive group and power-play unit. Vellucci, 54, will work with the team's forwards and oversee the penalty kill.
Details: https://t.co/lVrrfNDcQF pic.twitter.com/gaf0zc5DYv
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 2, 2020
The Penguins have signed goaltending coach Mike Buckley to a two-year contract extension, which keeps him with the Penguins until the conclusion of the 2021.22 campaign. pic.twitter.com/gZQQM3dmfw
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 2, 2020
The organization has now started the search for a new head coach for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Stay with KDKA for the latest on this developing story.
