The big picture focus point for Muse’s 26-minute presentation is how to work with players away from the puck.

Dan Muse is heading into his second season as an Assistant Coach with the New York Rangers. Previous to that, he spent three seasons as Head Coach with the USA NTDP, including leading the U.S. National Under-18 Team. The 40-year-old from Canton, Massachusetts, has coached various levels of elite hockey for over 15 years, including three seasons as an assistant with the Nashville Predators.

During his time with the NTDP, Muse was coaching the future of pro hockey, all with outstanding skillsets. The importance of puck support is something Muse noticed not many players have fully grasped, so his TCS Live presentation in 2022 focused on just that: the vital role players play away from the puck.

“I really believe that right now the players coming up in today’s day and age, they can skate, they’ve got great puck skills, they can shoot, but away from the puck, as coaches, we have to help them continue to get better. It’s going to be extremely important for them as they reach the higher levels.”

The big picture focus points for Muse’s 26 minute presentation include how to work with players away from the puck, how players should support the puck with purpose and the difference between being an option and the best option, and the importance of creating game like environments that will develop spatial and situational awareness and reads.

More on Muse:

• He was Head Coach of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team at the 2021 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship.
• He served as Head Coach of the USHL’s Chicago Steel for two seasons, where he led the team to a Clark Cup championship in 2017.
• He was part of NCAA Division I coaching staffs at Yale University (2009-2015), where he helped the Bulldogs to the 2013 NCAA title.
• He was the Video Coach for Team USA at the 2013 and 2014 World Junior Championships, winning the gold medal in 2013.