Mitch Love Interviewed By Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas For Vacant Bench Boss Job

Kyle Dubas said following an interview with the Capitals' assistant coach.

Mitch Love is no stranger to success. Prior to joining Spencer Carbery's coaching staff in 2023, Love won the AHL's Coach Of The Year award in both 2021, with the Stockton Heat, and 2022 with the Calgary Stranglers, for his impressive work behind the bench.

Mitch Love is known for his tough-nosed brand of hockey, and focusses largely on player development and defensive strategies. It's how he played the game in both the WHL and AHL. As an assistant, he instills in his players a never-quit attitude and the need to play the full sixty minutes with an edge.

This philosophy served Love well in his AHL head coaching tenure, where he enjoyed an impressive record of 96-33-8-3. In 2021, his Stockton Heat finished third overall in goals-for (2.72) and had the AHL's second best record; in 2022, his Calgary Wranglers finished first in goals-against (2.42) and was first in penalty kill percentage (85.1).

There are currently seven open head coaching jobs available in the NHL, including the Penguins: Flyers, Blackhawks, Mighty Ducks, Bruins, Canucks, and the Seattle Kracken. The probability that one these teams will hire Mitch Love is pretty good, in my opinion, especially since Love is reputed to work well with young players. The league is getting younger with every season; this will play in Mitch's favor when being considered for by the various GMs.

The Pittsburgh Penguins were the first to interview him. I am certain they will not be the last. We wish him the very best.