Why the Penguins Head Coach Deserves to Win the 2026 Jack Adams Award
On Friday, May 1st, the finalists for the 2026 Jack Adams Award were announced. Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabers, and Dan Muse of the Pittsburgh Penguins were the three coaches selected as nominations for the NHL’s coach who “contributed most to his team’s success.” Muse took over for Mike Sullivan, who had been at the helm in Pittsburgh for the prior decade. The Penguins' new head coach helped bring the team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021-2022, when many believed the Penguins would miss the playoffs yet again. He was also credited with multiple players having career years in Pittsburgh, including Anthony Mantha, Erik Karlsson, who had his best year with the Penguins, and Evgeni Malkin, who achieved his first point-per-game season in three years. Behind a fast-paced offensive attack and a multitude of new players, Muse was able to completely rewrite this Penguins team, taking them from 80 points and seventh in the Metropolitan a year ago to 98 points and second in the Metropolitan this year.
Muse came into a Pittsburgh team that had been struggling for a few seasons, with a slow decline over the past three. A Pens team that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017 hadn’t won a playoff series since 2018. While Muse was unable to secure a victory in the Penguins' playoff matchup against the Philadelphia Flyers, falling to them in Game Six, Muse’s turnaround of this team has truly shown that the Penguins just needed a revival, not a rebuild. Despite a consensus that the Penguins' three long-time stars, Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang, and Malkin, have been declining over the past few years, primarily Malkin and Letang, they were able to prove under a new head coach and scheme that they aren’t quite done yet. Malkin, the Penguins' alternate captain, has been at the talks of retirement, free agency, or a trade for several seasons now, but Pittsburgh has stayed true to him, and he delivered on that belief. The Russian forward recorded 61 points in 56 games, good for fifth on the Penguins and securing his 16th career point-per-game season. Letang, who played in 74 games, had 34 points, which is four more than he had a year prior. Even Karlsson was electric, posting his best year in Pittsburgh with 66 points in 75 games, good for second on the team. Crosby was again incredible, as he led the team in points with 74 through 68 games, securing his 21st straight point-per-game season.
Muse, when asked about what this nomination means, was truly humble and pushed the credit off of himself. The Penguins' rookie head coach stated, “When you get recognition for something like that, it shows the group. I think it’s a credit to the players, number one. They are the ones out on the ice playing the game. I don’t think any coach gets recognition when the team doesn’t play well on the ice. These guys did a great job throughout the course of the year, continuing to take steps.” He also gave credit to the rest of his coaching staff, noting the impact they had on the organizational environment created in Pittsburgh. The Penguins' rookie head coach has also received major support from his team in response to this nomination. Many talk about the organization he built, the connections he formed, or how Muse pushed the Pens every day, forcing them to strive for excellence and confidence. Letang specifically mentioned his passion and dedication to the game, saying, “I’m kind of a guy that stays late at the rink. He stays later than I; it’s crazy the amount of work he puts in.” Whether the Penguins' excellent new head coach wins the Jack Adams Coach of the Year Award or not, Pittsburgh and their fans alike have to be excited to have Muse in their corner.
