Breaking: Former Pens defenseman refused a head coach job offer.

Former Pens defenseman refused a head coach job offer.

It’s not the first time we see retired players staying close to the hockey world in different roles. Just think of Scott Stevens being an assistant coach to Minnesota Wild head coach Bruce Boudreau.

Another former NHL elite defenseman reportedly refused a head coach job offer coming all the way from Russia. According to the Russian Press, former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar refused to become head coach of Salavat Yulaev in the KHL.

Gonchar previously had coaching experience with the Pens as he was working with Pittsburgh’s defensemen at the NHL level and throughout the Penguins’ system. He was also scouting European tournaments on behalf of the team.

Sergei Gonchar played 1301 games in the NHL. Know to be a power-play specialist, he scored 220 goals and registered 591 assists for a total of 811 games.

He played for the Washington Capitals, the Boston Bruins, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Ottawa Senators, the Dallas Stars and the Montreal Canadiens.

He represented his country on multiple times internationally, including 4 Olympic Games. He won a silver medal in the 1998 Games and a bronze in 2002.

Gonchar won a silver medal at the 2010 World Championship and a bronze medal in the 2007 World Championship. He also suited up in the 1996 and 2004 World Cup of Hockey.