The NHL’s Seattle franchise hired former Penguins defenseman Ulf Samuelsson and forward Stu Barnes as a professional scouts.
Samuelsson, a member of the Penguins’ Stanley Cup championship teams in 1991 and ’92, was a bruising, violent defender for the Penguins over parts of five seasons in the 1990s. One of the most popular players in franchise history, Samuelsson arrived in Pittsburgh through a celebrated trade along with forward Ron Francis, Seattle’s general manager, from the Hartford Whalers in 1991.
A coach at various levels of professional hockey, Samuelsson was most recently an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks before being fired last season. His son, Philip Samuelsson, played in five games with the Penguins in 2013-14.
Barnes played parts of three seasons with the Penguins in the late 1990s. He recently served as an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars before having his contract expire this past offseason.
Also hired was Cammi Granato, one of the most accomplished women’s players in the history of the sport. Captain of the gold medal-winning team in the 1998 Olympics, Granato was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2010. The first woman to hold a pro scouting position in NHL history, Granato is the sister of former Penguins assistant coach Tony Granato.
The Seattle franchise, which does not yet have a name, will begin play in the 2021-22 season.
