Hooks Orpik

Managing Editor at PensBurgh

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Articles

Penguins announce Nick Bonino, Todd Nelson among new coaching staff

1 week ago | pensburgh.com | Hooks Orpik

Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images The Penguins have announced the hirings for their coaching staff around Dan Muse. Todd Nelson, a recent two-time AHL Calder Cup winning coach with Hershey, will join Pittsburgh as an assistant. Nick Bonino and Rich Clune will join Nelson as assistant coaches. Troy Paquette has been hired the team’s assistant video coach and Andy Chiodo will be retained as the goalie coach.
Crosby/Malkin vs. McDavid/Draisaitl: Examining Stanley Cup supporting casts

1 week ago | pensburgh.com | Hooks Orpik

Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images In the aftermath of Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers failing once again to capture the elusive Stanley Cup, online discourse has popped up about the age old hockey debate of individual contribution to what is a team-based achievement.
Hopefully the Hockey Hall of Fame gets it right this year on Sergei Gonchar

1 week ago | pensburgh.com | Hooks Orpik

Photo by Gregory Shamus/NHLI via Getty Images We did it in 2023, and in 2024 and now it’s time again to keep the spotlight on in 2025 the Hockey Hall of Fame to make the overdue call to induct Sergei Gonchar when announcements come out on Tuesday. The good news is that it seems like Gonchar’s candidacy is trending in the right direction, per HHOF expert Paul Pidutti. Will these 10 stars ever get the call to the Hockey Hall of Fame?
Worst case scenario for the Penguins in the draft?

1 week ago | pensburgh.com | Hooks Orpik

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images Something popped out in a lot of mock drafts that have been out there, but in best graphical form on this one from The Athletic. The expected top-six is what it is (Schaefer, Misa, Frondell, Desnoyers, Martone) for players that can’t be expected to last very long. But a bad scenario pops up for the Penguins if the picks before them break like this.
Nick Bonino says he’s joining the Penguins - as a coach

1 week ago | pensburgh.com | Hooks Orpik

Nick Bonino recently told Slovenian team HK Olimpija Ljubljana and their fans that he wouldn’t be playing for them this upcoming season like he first planned to do. Bonino will shift gears, retire from being an active player and become a coach with the Penguins.
Updating the early off-season checklist for the Penguins

1 week ago | pensburgh.com | Hooks Orpik

Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images Well, the first checklist got balled up and thrown in the trash a few days after it was published, so let’s check in. Step 1: Any (unplanned) staffing changes? The Penguins plan on retaining their coaching staff, according to general manager Kyle Dubas at his end of season press conference. That’s a reversal from last season when the team moved on from assistant Todd Reirden and replaced him with David Quinn.
Penguin re-sign Joona Koppanen to one year deal

1 week ago | pensburgh.com | Hooks Orpik

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The Penguins got another free agent piece of work wrapped up today with the announcement that Joona Koppanen is back with the organization for a third season. The Penguins have re-signed forward Joona Koppanen to a one-year contract. The contract will run through the 2025.26 campaign and carries an average annual value of $775,000 at the NHL level.
Could Bryan Rust make Team USA?

1 week ago | pensburgh.com | Hooks Orpik

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Team USA GM Bill Guerin talked about what it would take for the players he was picking to make the Olympic roster next year. “You just look at the hockey sense, the ability to play in tight games, tight areas,” Guerin said.
NHL Monday Rumor Roundup: Head vs. Heart on Bryan Rust?

1 week ago | pensburgh.com | Hooks Orpik

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images At this dawn of a new week there’s only one (or two as Edmonton will hope) games left before summer. That means the time for the draft and free agency and the flurry of activity for roster movement via summer trades is drawing near. Let’s take stock of what is out there and might be of interest — or not — for the Penguins.
The biggest Penguin killers in the NHL for 2024-25

1 week ago | pensburgh.com | Hooks Orpik

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images This is one of my more fun to write summer pieces: which opponents feast on the Penguins? It’s a good blend of memory, confirmation bias and also some surprises along the way.