The Pittsburgh Penguins hired Nick Bonino, Rich Clune and Todd Nelson as assistant coaches as well as Troy Paquette as an assistant video coach.
Their appointments were announced by the team on Friday. Additionally, the team revealed incumbent goaltending coach Andy Chiodo would remain on staff.
Bonino, a former forward for the team, revealed he was retiring as a player and joining the Penguins as a coach via social media on Wednesday. He was a member of the Penguins’ Stanley Cup championships teams in 2016 and 2017 and played for Nashville and the Rangers when Penguins head coach Dan Muse was an assistant for those teams.
“His familiarity with the Penguins organization, as well as my familiarity with him as a player, and person, made him a great fit for this role,” Muse said in a press release.
Clune was an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks last season. Previously, he was an assistant and development coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs. As a player, Clune spent five seasons in the NHL as a forward, skating for the Los Angeles Kings, Nashville Predators and Maple Leafs.
“Rich’s experience in coaching, development and as a former player and captain will be extremely valuable in this role,” Muse said in the release.
Nelson has been one of the most successful head coaches in the American Hockey League in recent years, leading the Hershey Bears to back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 2023 and 2024.
On the ice, Nelson was a fourth-round draft pick (No. 79 overall) of the Penguins in 1989 and played in a single game for the club during the 1991-92 season (a 2-2 tie with the New York Islanders on Nov. 23, 1991).
“Todd brings a championship pedigree and a winning history that speaks for itself,” Muse said. “He has consistently demonstrated an exceptional ability to get the most out of his players, most recently in Hershey, and his leadership qualities and wealth of experience will be a tremendous asset to our team as we continue to build a culture of excellence.”