The Penguins are expected to name a new head coach in the next month or so after parting ways with Mike Sullivan earlier this week.
The pool of potential options is large, with Kyle Dubas saying on Monday that they are looking at "long-time head coaches, coaches from Europe, coaches from junior, college, etc." He's stressed the importance of candidates having any experience at all in a developmental role, and he's also noted the success that teams in a similar situation to the Penguins have had hiring first-time head coaches.
Earlier in the week we took a look at five candidates who largely fit that description. But with the Penguins casting such a wide net in their search, that list of five was obviously in no way meant to be anything close to an exhaustive list.
So, as the Penguins' search continues, let's take a look at five more names to consider.
RIKARD GRONBORG
If the Penguins are going to look to Europe, Rikard Gronborg is an intriguing option.
Gronborg, 56, is a native of Sweden who is currently in his second season as head coach of Tappara in the top Finnish league. He led Tappara to a championship in his first season behind the bench, and also won the league's award for the top coach. Tappara got knocked out in the second round this season.
Before moving to Finland, Gronborg spent three and a half seasons as the head coach of the ZSC Lions in the top Swiss league. He coached the Swedish national team at various levels from 2010-19, including three years as the U20 World Junior coach from 2013-16, and head coach of the men's national team from 2016-19 in the Olympics, World Championship and World Cup.
Gronborg also has some experience in North America, unlike some other options from the European pool. He played as a defenseman at St. Cloud State from 1989-92, and got his start in coaching at his alma mater as an assistant in 1994-95. He was the associate coach of Division III University of Wisconsin-Stout from 1996-98, and was an assistant coach for the WHL's Spokane Chiefs in 2004-05.
Both Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell played for Gronborg internationally, and this season with Tappara Gronborg coached Penguins forward prospect Emil Jarventie. That familiarity, in addition to Gronborg's success in Finland and experience in a developmental role makes him an interesting opion.
JAY PANDOLFO
Longtime NHL forward Jay Pandolfo would check a lot of boxes, too.
Pandolfo, 50, is in his third season as head coach of Boston University and fourth with the program total, having spent one additional year there as an associate head coach. He took he program to the Frozen Four in all three years a head coach and was twice a finalist for the NCAA coach of the year. His players have included Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson.
Pandolfo also previously spent five years with the Bruins as an assistant coach and two seasons with the Bruins in a development capacity, first as a development coach and then as the director of player development.
As a player, Pandolfo twice won the Stanley Cup with the Devils as well as an NCAA championship with Boston University.
JAY LEACH
The Penguins' job would be a full-circle moment for Jay Leach, whose first coaching job in North America was as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's assistant under Sullivan in 2015-16, a team that included Bryan Rust and Tristan Jarry. Leach briefly served as Wilkes-Barre's head coach in the period between Sullivan's promotion to the NHL and Clark Donatelli's promotion from the ECHL.
Leach, 45, is currently an assistant coach with the Bruins, a team with its own head coaching vacancy. Before Boston he was an assistant coach with the Kraken in the team's first three seasons, and he also spent four years as the head coach of the AHL's Providence Bruins. Dubas has on numerous occasions expressed an admiration for Capitals coach Spencer Carbery, whose first job in the AHL was as an assistant in Providence under Leach.
Leach's first coaching job of any kind was an assistant for Adler Mannheim in the German DEL, where his team was the best in the regular season and went on to win the DEL championship.
MARCO STURM
Marco Sturm had a long NHL career, playing 938 games over 14 years with the Sharks, Bruins, Kings, Capitals, Canucks and Panthers. And now he's establishing himself as a future head coach in the NHL, too.
Sturm, 46, is in his third year as the head coach of the Ontario Reign, the Kings' AHL affiliate, reaching the playoffs in all three seasons. Before coaching the Reign Sturm was an assistant coach with the Kings for four seasons.
Sturm also found success as the head coach of the German national team too for three seasons, taking Germany to the World Championship quarterfinal in 2016 and 2017. Germany won a tournament to earn a spot in the 2018 Olympics under Sturm, where they went on to win silver.
NEIL GRAHAM
If the Penguins want a young up-and-coming coach from the AHL, Neil Graham would be among the frontrunners.
Graham, 40, is in his sixth season as coach of the Texas Stars. The league didn't have a postseason in Graham's first two years behind the bench due to COVID, but the Stars have made the Calder Cup playoffs under Graham in the four years since. Dubas had mentioned that the coaching search may take awhile because some of their top candidates are currently still in the middle of playoff runs in the NHL and AHL, and Graham's Stars are currently in the second round of the playoffs, and are up 1-0 over the Grand Rapids Griffins after earning a 4-0 shutout in Game 1.
Graham got his start in coaching as an assistant at Mercyhurst College in 2011-12 before being hired as an assistant coach with the Stars' ECHL affiliate, the Idaho Steelheads, in 2012. After three seasons as an assistant, Graham was named the head coach of the Steelheads in 2015 and held the position for four years before moving up to the AHL. The Steelheads made the Kelly Cup playoffs in all seven seasons in which Graham was the assistant or head coach.
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THE ASYLUM
Taylor Haase
8:08 pm - 05.02.2025DowntownFive more options for head coach
The Penguins are expected to name a new head coach in the next month or so after parting ways with Mike Sullivan earlier this week.
The pool of potential options is large, with Kyle Dubas saying on Monday that they are looking at "long-time head coaches, coaches from Europe, coaches from junior, college, etc." He's stressed the importance of candidates having any experience at all in a developmental role, and he's also noted the success that teams in a similar situation to the Penguins have had hiring first-time head coaches.
Earlier in the week we took a look at five candidates who largely fit that description. But with the Penguins casting such a wide net in their search, that list of five was obviously in no way meant to be anything close to an exhaustive list.
So, as the Penguins' search continues, let's take a look at five more names to consider.
RIKARD GRONBORG
If the Penguins are going to look to Europe, Rikard Gronborg is an intriguing option.
Gronborg, 56, is a native of Sweden who is currently in his second season as head coach of Tappara in the top Finnish league. He led Tappara to a championship in his first season behind the bench, and also won the league's award for the top coach. Tappara got knocked out in the second round this season.
Before moving to Finland, Gronborg spent three and a half seasons as the head coach of the ZSC Lions in the top Swiss league. He coached the Swedish national team at various levels from 2010-19, including three years as the U20 World Junior coach from 2013-16, and head coach of the men's national team from 2016-19 in the Olympics, World Championship and World Cup.
Gronborg also has some experience in North America, unlike some other options from the European pool. He played as a defenseman at St. Cloud State from 1989-92, and got his start in coaching at his alma mater as an assistant in 1994-95. He was the associate coach of Division III University of Wisconsin-Stout from 1996-98, and was an assistant coach for the WHL's Spokane Chiefs in 2004-05.
Both Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell played for Gronborg internationally, and this season with Tappara Gronborg coached Penguins forward prospect Emil Jarventie. That familiarity, in addition to Gronborg's success in Finland and experience in a developmental role makes him an interesting opion.
JAY PANDOLFO
Longtime NHL forward Jay Pandolfo would check a lot of boxes, too.
Pandolfo, 50, is in his third season as head coach of Boston University and fourth with the program total, having spent one additional year there as an associate head coach. He took he program to the Frozen Four in all three years a head coach and was twice a finalist for the NCAA coach of the year. His players have included Macklin Celebrini and Lane Hutson.
Pandolfo also previously spent five years with the Bruins as an assistant coach and two seasons with the Bruins in a development capacity, first as a development coach and then as the director of player development.
As a player, Pandolfo twice won the Stanley Cup with the Devils as well as an NCAA championship with Boston University.
JAY LEACH
The Penguins' job would be a full-circle moment for Jay Leach, whose first coaching job in North America was as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's assistant under Sullivan in 2015-16, a team that included Bryan Rust and Tristan Jarry. Leach briefly served as Wilkes-Barre's head coach in the period between Sullivan's promotion to the NHL and Clark Donatelli's promotion from the ECHL.
Leach, 45, is currently an assistant coach with the Bruins, a team with its own head coaching vacancy. Before Boston he was an assistant coach with the Kraken in the team's first three seasons, and he also spent four years as the head coach of the AHL's Providence Bruins. Dubas has on numerous occasions expressed an admiration for Capitals coach Spencer Carbery, whose first job in the AHL was as an assistant in Providence under Leach.
Leach's first coaching job of any kind was an assistant for Adler Mannheim in the German DEL, where his team was the best in the regular season and went on to win the DEL championship.
MARCO STURM
Marco Sturm had a long NHL career, playing 938 games over 14 years with the Sharks, Bruins, Kings, Capitals, Canucks and Panthers. And now he's establishing himself as a future head coach in the NHL, too.
Sturm, 46, is in his third year as the head coach of the Ontario Reign, the Kings' AHL affiliate, reaching the playoffs in all three seasons. Before coaching the Reign Sturm was an assistant coach with the Kings for four seasons.
Sturm also found success as the head coach of the German national team too for three seasons, taking Germany to the World Championship quarterfinal in 2016 and 2017. Germany won a tournament to earn a spot in the 2018 Olympics under Sturm, where they went on to win silver.
NEIL GRAHAM
If the Penguins want a young up-and-coming coach from the AHL, Neil Graham would be among the frontrunners.
Graham, 40, is in his sixth season as coach of the Texas Stars. The league didn't have a postseason in Graham's first two years behind the bench due to COVID, but the Stars have made the Calder Cup playoffs under Graham in the four years since. Dubas had mentioned that the coaching search may take awhile because some of their top candidates are currently still in the middle of playoff runs in the NHL and AHL, and Graham's Stars are currently in the second round of the playoffs, and are up 1-0 over the Grand Rapids Griffins after earning a 4-0 shutout in Game 1.
Graham got his start in coaching as an assistant at Mercyhurst College in 2011-12 before being hired as an assistant coach with the Stars' ECHL affiliate, the Idaho Steelheads, in 2012. After three seasons as an assistant, Graham was named the head coach of the Steelheads in 2015 and held the position for four years before moving up to the AHL. The Steelheads made the Kelly Cup playoffs in all seven seasons in which Graham was the assistant or head coach.
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