Pittsburgh Penguins hire Jacques Martin as assistant coach

November 23, 2011; Raleigh, NC, USA; Montreal Canadiens coach Jacques Martin against the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC center. The Canadiens defeated the Hurricanes 4-3. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero and head coach Dan Bylsma announced on Friday that Jacques Martin has been hired as an assistant coach.

Martin, 60, is a former NHL head coach with the St. Louis Blues (1986-88), Ottawa Senators (1995-2004), Florida Panthers (2005-08), and Montreal Canadiens (2009-12). He also has been an assistant with Chicago, Quebec, and Colorado in the NHL. He joins Tony Granato and Todd Reirden as assistants on Bylsma’s staff.

A native of St-Pascal, Ontario, Martin’s head coaching resume includes 1,294 games, 613 wins and 12 playoff appearances in 17 NHL seasons. He ranks seventh all-time among NHL coaches in games coached and 10th all-time in wins. Martin won the Jack Adams Award as NHL Coach of the Year with Ottawa back in 1999, and was a finalist for the award on three other occasions.

Martin told NHL.com, “It’s such an exciting opportunity to come to Pittsburgh and work with Dan, Tony, and Todd. The expectations are always high for the Penguins, but I look forward to the challenge and to helping Dan and his staff in any way possible.”

Martin and Shero worked together in Ottawa when Shero served as assistant general manager for the Senators.