New Penguins Head Coach Dan Muse Breaks Silence on His Role and Offseason Plans in NHL Tonight Interview

"Yeah, it's been busy. A bit of a whirlwind, but good busy. Between going through the interview process and, after getting the job, spending a lot of time on the phone figuring out the coaching staff, then the draft, development camp, free agency-it's been full-on."

"From his success in developing college and junior players, to his impactful work with veteran players during his time in the NHL, Dan has shown a proven ability to connect with players at all stages of their careers and help them to reach their potential."

"Yeah, I mean, it's a bit ironic, I guess. But once you get to that first game, there's always a lot of excitement. With all the work that goes into training camp and preparing for the season, opening night is something you look forward to.

And the fact that it's at MSG-obviously, there are ties on both sides. But I think once we get to that night, we're just going to be excited to get going and start the season strong."

"Definitely at the NHL level, Peter Laviolette. I worked with him in both Nashville and New York. He gave me my first opportunity in the NHL-something I'll always be grateful for. I learned a ton from him, especially how he delegates and manages staff. Seeing that firsthand in two different organizations taught me a lot that I'll carry with me.

Then there's Keith Allain. I worked with him for six years at Yale. He gave me a great opportunity, and we had success together. He had prior experience in the NHL as an assistant in Washington and St. Louis, so learning from him was invaluable.

Also, Red Gendron-he passed a few years ago, but he was a great mentor to me while I was at Yale. He later coached at Maine and had NHL experience, including a Stanley Cup win in New Jersey. Being able to learn from both Keith and Red, especially as a young coach, meant a lot. I took a great deal from both of them."