The Penguins' coaching staff wasn't likely to change this summer, from everything I'd been told. But change can come from the outside, too.
Jacques Martin, Mike Sullivan's assistant entrusted with the penalty-killing and rolling the defensive pairs, is a candidate for two current NHL head coaching vacancies in Buffalo and Ottawa, according to a radio report from TSN's Darren Dreger in Canada. Dreger specifically called Martin "a top candidate" with the Sabres, adding that both teams have sought and received permission from the Penguins to contact him.
Martin, 66, has been on the Pittsburgh staff for four years, including the 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup championship teams. Because of the latter, there's an obvious connection with Jason Botterill, the Sabres' general manager who previously worked here under Jim Rutherford. Martin has even deeper ties with the Senators, having been their head coach as part of his 15 years of such experience.
Mark Recchi, Sullivan's other full-time assistant, will be retained, and the same is expected of Sergei Gonchar and Mike Buckley.
The Sabres and Senators both missed the playoffs and both fired their coaches, Phil Housley and Guy Boucher, respectively. Marc Crawford was the interim head coach down the stretch in Ottawa.
