Mike Keenan will make his return behind the bench as a professional hockey coach in Russia.
The former Stanley Cup champion and winner of 672 NHL games signed a two-year deal with the Kontinental Hockey League’s Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
Magnitogorsk is no stranger to hiring coaches with NHL experience. Paul Maurice guided the club in 2012-13 but, as reported by R-Sport, decided to part ways the club back in March.
Magnitogorsk, a perennial contender for the KHL championship, was eliminated in the quarterfinals this spring. The club served as the lockout home for NHLers Evgeni Malkin, Sergei Gonchar, Ryan O’Reilly and Nikolai Kulemin. Metallurg’s Mats Zuccarello rejoined the New York Rangers after the KHL season.
Keenan, 63, last coached professionally for the Calgary Flames from 2007 to 2009. He recorded his 600th career win with the Flames, but was fired with a year left on his contract after the Flames lost in the first round of playoffs for a second year.
The veteran coach had initially turned down a “long-term” contract offer with Metallurg back in April, but negotiations continued.
“Iron Mike” coached seven different teams over 20 years in the NHL. He won a Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers in 1994.
Keenan has been serving as a part-time analyst for Sportsnet’s Hockey Central.
Watch: Keenan’s “Some Call Me Iron Mike” Metallurg introduction video
