Penguins part ways with associate coach Todd Reirden

Credit: May 13, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins assistant coach Todd Reirden (left) talks with the power play unit against the New York Rangers during the second period in game six of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

On Friday, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas announced that the team has parted ways with associate coach Todd Reirden.

The Penguins have parted ways with Associate Coach Todd Reirden, it was announced today by President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas. Reirden is relieved of his duties immediately.

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 3, 2024

“We are grateful to Todd for his dedication and commitment to the Penguins over two separate stints with the organization,” said Dubas in a statement released by the team. “Mike Sullivan and I have spent time over the past two weeks evaluating the coaching staff, and although these decisions are never easy, we agree that this change was in the best interest of the team moving forward.”

Reirden, 52, has been with the organization on and off for a total of seven years dating to 2008. He first served as assistant coach for the now Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League for the 2008-09 season, but eventually took over for Dan Bylsma midway through the campaign.

Reirden coached the AHL club for one more season before being promoted to NHL assistant coach in 2010. After four seasons in that role, he served as an assistant and associate coach for the Washington Capitals before being named head coach in 2017.

Reirden went 89-46-16 in 151 games as bench boss for the Capitals but was fired on Aug. 23, 2020, just a few days after Washington lost in five games in the first round of the playoffs to the New York Islanders.

The Penguins brought him right back, however, as an assistant coach the following season and promoted the veteran to associate coach in 2021.

Pittsburgh has missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons after holding the longest active streak, 16 straight postseason berths.