Dan Muse has been named a Jack Adams Award finalist

TL;DR

Dan Muse, head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, is a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, recognizing him as one of the NHL's top coaches. Under his leadership, the Penguins achieved 41 wins, marking a surprising return to the postseason.

Key points

Dan Muse named Jack Adams Award finalist
Led Penguins to 41 wins in first NHL season
Penguins reached postseason for first time since 2022

Mentioned in this story

Dan MuseJon CooperLindy Ruff

Pittsburgh PenguinsTampa Bay LightningBuffalo SabresPhiladelphia Flyers

Mar 10, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Muse walks off the ice after the first period against the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images | James Guillory-Imagn Images Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Muse has been named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award. Muse was named one of the three finalists for the award, which is the NHL’s annual “Coach of the Year” award, alongside Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper and Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff. The Penguins were a surprise success story this past season under Muse, who was a first-year head coach in the NHL, leading the team to the postseason for the first time since 2022 after being predicted by many to be among the bottom teams in the league this past season. The 41 wins the team amassed under Muse tied for the third-most in franchise history for a coach in his first year with the Penguins. Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson was among those voicing their support for Muse, saying that he was a big part of the team’s success this past year. While the Penguins’ exit from the postseason may have been a disappointment, losing to the Philadelphia Flyers in six games, it’s not a reach to say that the Penguins outperformed their expectations this past season and it seems as if the team made a good choice when hiring Muse as the leader of the franchise in the post-Mike Sullivan era.

Q&A

Who are the other finalists for the Jack Adams Award alongside Dan Muse?

The other finalists are Jon Cooper, head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Lindy Ruff, head coach of the Buffalo Sabres.

What achievements did Dan Muse accomplish in his first year as head coach of the Penguins?

Dan Muse led the Penguins to 41 wins, tying for the third-most in franchise history for a coach in their first year, and took the team to the postseason for the first time since 2022.

How did the Pittsburgh Penguins perform in the postseason under Dan Muse?

The Penguins were eliminated in the postseason by the Philadelphia Flyers in six games, but they exceeded expectations during the regular season.