The Pittsburgh Penguins have filled out their minor league coaching staffs for the 2026-27 season, keeping familiar faces in place at both Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Florida while also making a few additions and promotions along the way.
Kirk MacDonald is set to begin his third season as head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins after steering the club to a 46-17-7-2 mark last season and its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 2014. Through two seasons with the team, MacDonald has put together an 86-41-14-3 record and a .656 points percentage.
He’ll again have Brad Malone and Nick Luukko on his bench. Malone is entering his second season as an assistant coach, while Luukko is headed into his third.
The Penguins also elevated two staff members from their ECHL operation in Wheeling. Evan McFeeters has been promoted to assistant coach with a focus on development, and Karel Popper is moving up as the team’s goaltending coach.
Ryan Lennon is the new video coach for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after spending the last two seasons with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League.
There are several other changes around the AHL club’s support staff. David Roper and Dan Resavy have been promoted to head equipment manager and head athletic trainer, respectively.
Eddie Duffy and Morgan Payne will work alongside Roper on the equipment side, while Connor Keenan is back for a fourth season as strength and conditioning coach. Cédrik Cabana has been hired as manager of team services after the past two seasons with the Victoriaville Tigres of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.
In Florida, Brad Ralph is back for his 11th season as head coach and general manager of the Everblades, the Penguins’ newest affiliate. Ralph is coming off a season that ended with Florida’s fourth Kelly Cup championship in the last five years. The Everblades also won titles in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Since taking over in 2016-17, Ralph has led Florida to five Kelly Cup Final appearances, five regular-season conference championships and five division titles.
Kyle Mountain is returning for his second season as Florida’s assistant coach. Anthony Butrico is now on the staff full-time as goaltending coach and development coach after serving in a part-time role last season.
Florida’s support crew also includes John Sellers back as head equipment manager, Nicholas Bufinsky as head athletic trainer, and Miranda Hartlieb and Mike Carey handling strength and conditioning.
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