Pittsburgh Penguins' business operations president decides to resign
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Kevin Acklin has resigned as the president of business operations for the Pittsburgh Penguins, according to the Pittsburgh Business Times.
The announcement was made by Teddy Werner, Senior Vice President of Strategic Operations at Fenway Sports Management, at the 2025 Night of Assists Gala at Rivers Casino.
"After seven incredible seasons with the Penguins, I have decided that I will be moving on from my role as president of business operations," said Acklin in a statement.
Acklin originally joined the Penguins organization in 2018 as senior vice president and general counsel, and was previously the team's COO. Acklin is a Pittsburgh native, and was selected as the president of business operations in 2022.
"I will forever be proud to be a Penguin, and I look forward to the next steps in my career while continuing my service to Pittsburgh."
According to the Pittsburgh Business Times, Acklin will remain with the team as an advisor until the end of the year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
a day ago
- New York Times
Penguins' Kyle Dubas eyes trade market over free agency this offseason
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Kyle Dubas entertained one draft prospect after another on Friday, speaking with the likes of Porter Martone, Kashawn Aitcheson and Jackson Smith in the restaurant at the NHL Draft Combine. The draft is June 27-28. A few days later, the unrestricted free agency signing period opens on July 1. Advertisement Dubas, who now has a head coach in Dan Muse, has something else on his mind. Trade season is fast approaching, too. Dubas spoke on Friday afternoon about the potential of being aggressive sooner rather than later. 'I would say that, probably with the UFA stuff (the July 1 signing period), we're probably not (going to be aggressive) unless there's someone young enough who maybe deserves a little bit more term,' he said. That doesn't mean Dubas is going to stand pat. Dubas said the Penguins have been contacted about potential trades. 'It's similar to the trade deadline,' Dubas started. 'The usual suspects are receiving all of the calls and interests.' It's no secret that teams covet some of the Penguins' veterans, and Dubas shed some light on his plans in that regard. 'There are teams that have been rebuilding for a while that are looking to take steps,' he said. 'They are interested. That's potentially a good fit with us.' Dubas and the Penguins have a bushel of draft picks and several veterans they're willing to trade. In return, they hope to acquire young, talented players who, for whatever reason, are no longer proper fits on their current teams. If the Penguins are aggressive in the next month, it's likely to be on the trade market more than in free agency. 'Yeah,' Dubas said, confirming that he'll potentially be busy on the trade market. 'Trade, (then) sign guys for longer range (after they've been acquired). UFA isn't a good place to find good value.' Not only is Dubas interested in talented, young players, but he's keeping an eye on teams in salary cap hell. He took advantage of that last season, when he made a couple of deals with Barry Trotz and the Nashville Predators. 'I think what is more likely is teams in cap difficulty looking for someone older,' he said. 'If they have younger guys available, those younger guys can fit with what we're trying to do.' Advertisement Penguins fans are eager for Dubas to hit the restricted free agent market, which the St. Louis Blues notably and impressively utilized against the Edmonton Oilers last season. 'Especially after last season with the success that Doug (Armstrong) had,' Dubas said. 'It was a perfect storm, a flat cap.' The salary cap is rising significantly this summer. 'I don't think you're going to see as much of it this year,' said Dubas, who strongly implied the Penguins won't be going after any restricted free agents. The Penguins have five restricted free agents on their roster, including Conor Timmins, P.O Joseph, Connor Dewar, Philip Tomasino and Vasiliy Ponomarev. 'We've had some discussions with some agents,' Dubas said. 'We have pro meetings coming up Monday in Pittsburgh. We'll sort through where we're at. You also get great insights from agents and other teams about how things are going to shake loose (while being at the combine). It better informs your decisions, how far you want to go with certain guys, arbitration cases. Are players at the same ability available for less money?' One player apparently won't be available. Ponomarev, who played briefly for the Penguins and for much of the season in AHL Wilkes-Barre during the 2024-25 campaign, likely will play next season in the KHL. 'That's my understanding, yes,' Dubas said. 'He switched agents once or twice. Negotiated his own deal over there. He's young. We'll watch him. We weren't going to promise him anything. He got a lot of opportunities with us. We'll just keep watching him. It is what it is. It's business.' The Penguins, who still own his NHL rights, weren't blown away by him in his brief stint in Pittsburgh. 'When he came up last year, before the trade with Carolina, he played with a lot more pace there,' Dubas said in reference to Ponomarev's NHL debut with the Hurricanes before he was traded to Pittsburgh in the Jake Guentzel deal. 'Obviously, it's a different environment. Carolina was at a different point in its evolution. It's the way it goes sometimes.' Advertisement Dubas said the combine doesn't really have any influence on which players the Penguins will ultimately pick in the draft. Rather, he simply likes getting to know the players who might someday become Penguins. 'I think, more than anything, if you end up drafting some of these guys, you get a feel for who they are,' he said. 'There's some familiarity when they come to your building for development camp July 3. It helps you develop relationships.'
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
David Quinn making Rangers return on Mike Sullivan's coaching staff
Access the Rangers beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers. tRY IT NOW David Quinn is following Mike Sullivan back to New York. The former rookie Rangers coach, who stood behind the bench for three seasons from 2018-21, is set to remain on Sullivan's staff — after the two reunited in Pittsburgh last season — and return to his first NHL club as an assistant, per a league source. Joe Sacco and Ty Hennes will fill out the remainder of the Rangers coaching staff. Official titles are still unclear. Rising from a five-season run as head coach at Boston University, Quinn was hired to lead the Rangers through a sort of fast-tracked rebuild in May 2018. Nine months earlier, the Rangers released The Letter to fans announcing their intentions. 3 David Quinn, who was the Rangers head coach from 2018-21, is returning as an assistant under Mike Sullivan. Robert Sabo for the NY POST 3 Mike Sullivan was quickly hired by the Rangers after he left the Penguins. Robert Sabo for NY Post Quinn finished with a 96-87-25 record at the helm and only a qualifying-round appearance in the 2020 bubble playoffs following the COVID-19-impacted 2019-20 season. The Rangers dismissed Quinn, as well as general manager Jeff Gorton and president John Davidson, after the team capped another playoff-less season with a five-game losing streak to clubs that manhandled them both skillfully and physically. That included the infamous Tom Wilson game on May 3, 2021, when the Capitals agitator pushed his stick down on Pavel Buchnevich's neck and rag-dolled star Artemi Panarin. Both Sacco and Quinn were in the mix for other opportunities around the league, per a source, but the Rangers were able to secure the two. 3 Mike Sullivan (l.) and David Quinn (r.) after a Penguins loss to the Sharks on Jan. 27, 2025. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Leaving his interim head coaching job with the Bruins, Sacco joins the Rangers after 12 seasons in Boston. Hennes worked under Sullivan for the past two seasons in Pittsburgh and remains on his staff.
USA Today
3 days ago
- USA Today
Pittsburgh Penguins hire Dan Muse as franchise's 23rd head coach
Pittsburgh Penguins hire Dan Muse as franchise's 23rd head coach Show Caption Hide Caption Are Edmonton Oilers Stanley Cup bound? Former NHLer weighs in Former NHL winger Riley Cote explains what he loves about this Edmonton Oilers team ahead of the Western Conference Finals. Sports Seriously The Pittsburgh Penguins named Dan Muse as the 23rd head coach in franchise history on Wednesday. He replaces Mike Sullivan, who had been head coach for nine-plus seasons before he and the team agreed to part ways. Muse had been an assistant coach with the New York Rangers, where Sullivan had been hired. "During this process, we met with many candidates who we felt would have been a fit as the next head coach of the Penguins, but ultimately, Dan Muse stood out as the best choice," general manager Kyle Dubas said. "What separated Dan was his ability to develop players, win at all levels where he has been a head coach and his consistent success coaching special teams in the NHL. "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." Who is Dan Muse? Muse, 42, has 20 years of coaching experience, including five seasons in the NHL as an assistant coach with the Rangers (2023-25) and Nashville Predators (2017-20). Those teams won the Presidents' Trophy twice and won three division titles. He oversaw those teams' penalty-killing units. He was head coach at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program from 2020-23, winning a gold medal at the 2023 world under-18 championship. Muse was the Chicago Steel's head coach from 2015-17, winning the United States Hockey League title in his second season. Before Chicago, he had been an assistant or associate coach with several college teams, notably spending five years with Yale University. What awaits Dan Muse in Pittsburgh? The Penguins have missed the playoffs the past three seasons, finishing 11 points out in 2024-25. Of the core group, Sidney Crosby has two years left on his contract, Kris Letang has three and Evgeni Malkin is in his final year. Defenseman Erik Karlsson has two years left. Muse coached current Penguins prospect Rutger McGroarty with USA Hockey. Pittsburgh ranked 18th in penalty killing last season and had the league's fourth-worst team goals-against average. NHL coaching hires NHL coach openings Boston Bruins
