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Penguins extend and promote their assistant coach |
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The Pittsburgh Penguins have extended Todd Reirdan’s contract for another two years and it includes a promotion
Reirdan works with the defense and is responsible for the power play. Over the years he has shown to be a quality assistant coach in both his Pittsburgh and Washington stops. While Penguins assistant they have been consistently in the top half of the league in xGA/60 at 5v5.
It isn’t elite, but the Penguins aren’t exactly known throughout their history as a defensive club. The fact they are more than competent during Reirdan’s multiple years in his role I think shows a coach with at least somewhat of a positive influence on his players. Those players usually have positive things to say about Reirdan.
The power play has never been short of talent in Pittsburgh. At least not the past 17 years or so. This does make the job of running the Penguins power play a little bit easier than some places. That said, when Phil Kessel left the Penguins power play looked lost. Everything had been running through Kessel. Kessel’s departure, combined with some long term injuries to Crosby and Malkin, was a recipe for a learning curve without 81’s presence. In Phil’s last year in PIttsburgh (2018-19) the power play clicked at 24.6% which was 5th overall in the league. The year after it dropped to 19.9% at 16th overall. It wasn’t terrible, it just wasn’t a difference maker anymore on a team who was struggling to score at 5v5.
In 2020-21 the Penguins power play jumped back up to 4th best in the league at 23.6%. The power play looked more cohesive than it had the prior year. It was Reirdan’s first year back with the club. While the power play dropped off to 20.2%, 19th best, you can look to Evgeni Malkin’s extended injury for half the year for the reason it dropped off. You just can’t replace that talent. With Malkin back the power play looked competent. Breakouts were cleaner and puck movement was improved. Malkin provided nine power play goals in only 41 games. Getting Malkin more quality looks was definitely a welcomed sight.
I think this is a solid piece of business for the Penguins. Reirdan is quality assistant coach and has been for some time. I do not view him as a threat to Mike Sullivan’s job security. At the same time Reirdan does have head coaching experience and would be able to fill in if a situation dictated so, like when Mike Sullivan missed time for COVID last year.
Thanks for reading!
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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