Penguins fire goaltending coach Mike Buckley, name Andy Chiodo as replacement

After not making any substantial moves with their goaltending depth this offseason, the Penguins fired the man who oversaw them.

Goaltending coach Mike Buckley was dismissed Wednesday and replaced by Andy Chiodo, previously the organization’s goaltending development coach. In his previous role, Chiodo worked with the franchise’s prospects at the position.

Buckley had spent the previous eight seasons on staff with the Penguins in various capacities, including the last four as goaltending coach.

Replacing incumbent goaltending coach Mike Bales in 2017, Buckley was promoted from the goaltending development coach position in 2017 largely for the benefit of former starter Matt Murray, whom Buckley coached with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.

After leading the Penguins to the Stanley Cup in 2016 and ‘17, Murray did not enjoy the same success at the NHL level under Buckley’s watch and was dealt to the Ottawa Senators in October 2020.

While Tristan Jarry became an All-Star during the 2019-20 season under the guidance of the 44-year-old Buckley, he struggled this past postseason as the Penguins were eliminated from the playoffs in a first-round loss to the New York Islanders. During that six-game series, Jarry had a 2-4 record along with a bloated 3.18 goals-against average and a woeful .888 save percentage.

Buckley had signed a two-year contract extension as recently as Sept. 2 and had one year remaining on his deal before being fired.

Chiodo, 38, replaces Buckley after spending the past three seasons as the goaltending development coach. A seventh-round pick (No. 199 overall) of the Penguins in 2003, Chiodo appeared in eight games for the team during the 2003-04 season going 3-4-1 with a 3.46 goals against average and an .892 save percentage.

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