In a development somewhat reminiscent of last spring’s executive house cleaning, the Penguins will not renew the contracts of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach J.D. Forrest and assistant Kevin Porter. The announcement came just two days after the Baby Pens were swept by arch-rival Lehigh Valley in the opening round of the AHL Calder Cup playoffs.
Former Pens GM Ron Hextall and POHO Brian Burke experienced a similar swift fall of the ax head last April.
After his team missed the playoffs last season, the 43-year-old Forrest led the resurgent Baby Pens to a 21-point leap and their best record since 2017-18.