PITTSBURGH — Near the end of his introductory press conference on Wednesday at PPG Paints Arena, Dan Muse was asked to describe what he thought might've been a separator during the interview process.

It wasn't anything overly complex, the new Penguins coach insisted. It was almost more about what Muse lacked (give-a-darn) than what he ...Read more

The Florida Panthers have a trio of big players in forwards Sam Bennett, Brad Marchand and Aaron Ekblad who are mere weeks away from hitting the open market as free agents.

They’re all thriving as Florida inches closer to repeating as champions.

The group has said throughout the Cup Final, which Florida leads 2-1 heading into Game 4 on ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Penguins icon Mario Lemieux is interested in buying back the NHL franchise from Fenway Sports Group, according to a report from Canadian sports network TSN.

However, FSG said in a statement that it does not wish to sell control of the team.

“We’ve seen the speculation, and as we’ve previously shared with media, Fenway ...Read more

MIAMI — Jonah Gadjovich made a new fan on Monday.

After the Florida Panthers’ 6-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, local ABC affiliate WPLG aired an interview that went viral with a 9-year-old Panthers fan named Sophia who said her favorite part of the game is “the fighting.”

She got to see a lot of it ...Read more

SEATTLE — His résumé was displayed in the corner of the room, and though not awe-inspiring, it was adequate.

A Stanley Cup championship as an assistant with the Capitals. A 61-46-20 record in his season and a half as coach of the Islanders, where his firing two seasons ago came despite being four games above .500.

New Kraken coach Lane ...Read more

MIAMI — There was no close game to worry about, no late comeback, overtime thriller to wait out.

Just simple domination by the Florida Panthers on their home ice that has the potential to flip the Stanley Cup Final fully in their favor.

Florida played its game to a tee and got contributions from throughout the lineup in its 6-1 win over ...Read more

MIAMI — Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final had just ended and most of the Florida Panthers’ went at full speed to celebrate with Brad Marchand, who scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to even the best-of-seven series with the Edmonton Oilers at 1-1.

Nate Schmidt went in a different direction when he got off the bench.

“Just ...Read more

It’s not the baby faces or different hair Aaron Ekblad mentions about a photo from his 2014 draft, the one passed around the Florida Panthers’ plane before this Stanley Cup Final of that year’s top four picks, in order: Ekblad, Leon Draisaitl, Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett.

“We were all laughing about how bad our shoes were,’’ he ...Read more

MIAMI — The Florida Panthers have found a way to thrive on the road during this Stanley Cup playoffs run. It’s a major reason why they’re back in the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, why they’re oh so close to repeating as champions.

But with their best-of-seven Cup Final series with the Oilers tied 1-1 after opening the ...Read more

Take a sigh of relief, Florida Panthers fans.

Aaron Ekblad appears to be OK.

Panthers coach Paul Maurice on Saturday said the defenseman was fine after blocking a Darnell Nurse shot with his hand in the second overtime of Florida’s eventual 5-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Friday.

The blocked shot ...Read more

EDMONTON, Alberta — Two games into this Stanley Cup Final rematch between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers. Two absolutely thrilling games of hockey, both of which went to overtime.

And, most importantly for the Panthers, a split so far in the series as the games shift to South Florida.

After falling in overtime in the series ...Read more

FORT WORTH, Texas — For the second time this century, the Dallas Stars players got a coach fired.

Pete DeBoer just got Hitchcocked.

On Friday morning, the Stars announced they dismissed head coach Pete DeBoer, who in his three-year tenure led the team to the Western Conference finals each season. It is the most productive stretch in the ...Read more

DENVER — Front office executives know it is better to fall in like with players than fall in love.

The Avs and Nuggets continue to stretch the elasticity of loyalty, determined to run it back with rosters that fell short this spring. This point was driven home Wednesday as the Avs re-signed free agent Brock Nelson to a three-year, $22.5 ...Read more

EDMONTON, Alberta — The Florida Panthers were in their comfort zone Wednesday — leading after two periods, ready to lock things down defensively. They’ve done it so many times during these Stanley Cup playoffs on their way to this point, a rematch with the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final.

The Oilers had other plans.

Mattias ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Inside the Lightning dressing room, there was no doubt Nikita Kucherov was the NHL’s most valuable player this season. This week, the star right winger received the ultimate endorsement from his peers across the league, winning the Ted Lindsay Award.

Commonly known as the “players’ MVP,” the Lindsay is the only award ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — After vetting dozens of candidates in a lengthy search to try to find the right coach to lead the Penguins into the future, Kyle Dubas settled on a dark-horse selection.

The Penguins announced Wednesday that Dan Muse has been hired as their next coach. The 42-year-old is the 23rd coach in team history, replacing Mike Sullivan.

...Read more

PITTSBURGH — It didn't need to be a household name. In fact, when it comes to the NHL and its weird addiction to retread coaches, it's often more exciting when it's not.

It just has to work.

The subject at hand, of course, is Dan Muse, the 42-year-old the Penguins hired to become their next head coach on Wednesday afternoon. I didn't predict...Read more