Penguins Hire Ex-Maple Leaf Rich Clune, Marlies' Troy Paquette To NHL Coaching Staff

It’s been said before, and I’ll repeat it: Pittsburgh Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas appreciates his people.

Nearly one year after bringing in Toronto Maple Leafs Director of Player Personnel, Wes Clark, the Penguins have added two more coaches who’ve spent time in Toronto’s organization. Pittsburgh hired former Toronto Marlies assistant coach Rich Clune and video coach Troy Paquette on Friday afternoon, rounding out the team’s coaching staff under new bench boss Dan Muse.

Clune was most recently an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks. He spent one season with the NHL club after holding a similar role on the Marlies’ coaching staff for part of the year prior, after assistant coach Eric Wellwood went on medical leave.

The 38-year-old ran Anaheim’s power play last season, which finished at an NHL-worst 11.8 percent. The Ducks also finished 25th in the league with 80 points. Clune had been captain of the Marlies for part of two seasons (2020-21 to 2021-22) before shifting into a development role with the organization after retirement in August 2022.

Following former Anaheim head coach Greg Cronin’s dismissal in April, questions arose about the rest of the team’s coaching staff. A month later, the Ducks announced that Clune and assistant coach Brent Thompson would not return next season.

Can Matt Duchene’s Extension Offer Clues For John Tavares’ Next Contract With The Maple Leafs? One of the few center options the Toronto Maple Leafs could’ve had in free agency is now off the market.

This will be Clune’s second season behind an NHL bench as an assistant coach.

“Rich brings a wealth of knowledge across every level of professional hockey, spanning from his 15-year playing career to his time in development and coaching at the AHL and NHL levels over the past three years,” Muse said.

“Rich’s experience in coaching, development and as a former player and captain will be extremely valuable in this role, and we’re excited for his addition to our coaching staff.”

‘We Were Down 2-0 And You Got Us Here’: Paul Maurice’s Viral Stanley Cup Comment Serves As A Painful Reminder For Maple LeafsWhen the Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup, some Toronto Maple Leafs fans lamented another missed opportunity. After all, the Maple Leafs were the only team to push Florida to seven games during its championship run.

After four seasons with the Marlies, Paquette joins the Penguins as an assistant video coach. Before joining AHL Toronto in 2021, Paquette spent three seasons with the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs (2018 to 2021) and two as a goaltending coach with USports’ Queen’s University (2019 to 2021).

The 29-year-old will work underneath video coach Madison Nikkel, who’s been with the Penguins since 2019.

Possible Maple Leafs Trade Target Gone As Kraken Land Former Prospect Mason MarchmentAny hopes the Toronto Maple Leafs had of re-acquiring Mason Marchment were dashed Thursday , as the Dallas Stars traded the gritty forward to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2025 fourth-round selection in the NHL Draft. The Maple Leafs are in the hunt for more forward depth, and Marchment brings plenty of playoff experience, having played with the Stars in the Western Conference Final for the third consecutive season.