Former Washington Capitals head coach Todd Reirden is returning to the Pittsburgh Penguins as an assistant coach. The Penguins made the official announcement Wednesday morning.
Reirden will oversee Pittsburgh’s defensive group and power play. The Penguins also signed Mike Velluci, who will work with the Penguins’ forwards and head the penalty kill.
Reirden was an assistant coach with Pittsburgh from 2010-2014 before being relieved from his role. He joined the Capitals shortly afterwards as an assistant on Barry Trotz’s coaching staff.
He was an assistant for four seasons. Following the Capitals’ 2018 Stanley Cup title, Reirden was promoted to replaced Trotz as Washington’s head coach.
The Capitals won Metropolitan division titles in each of Reirden’s two seasons as head coach. However, they failed to duplicate their 2018 Stanley Cup success as they were bounced out of the first round of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Their most recent exit at the hands of Trotz and his new team, the New York Islanders in five games.
Reirden was fired by the Capitals on Aug. 23.
His head coaching resume is marred by the Capitals’ shortcomings in the postseason. But, Reirden has a respectable resume as an assistant, known for his defensive management.
Now he once again gets to power the defense of the Capitals’ biggest rival.
