NY Post: Johnston a "longshot" to return

Postby **TheHammer24** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:29 am

From the NY Post: Several precincts are reporting that Pittsburgh’s first-year coach
Mike Johnston is at this point a long shot to get a second year behind
the Penguins bench.

Ownership and upper management are trying to figure out how to blame Ray Shero.

Postby **Avyran** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:33 am

Here's the article.

It's Larry Brooks, so take it with however many grains of salt that you want.

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:35 am

Larry Brooks trollism FTW.

http://nypost.com/2015/04/11/calendar-c ... ion-kings/

Postby **LITT** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:39 am

i find it hard to believe the pens would pay two coaches not to coach next year

Postby **RonnieFranchise** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:39 am

HIRE BYLSMA

Postby **thehockeyguru** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:40 am

i find it hard to believe the pens would pay two coaches not to coach next year

I was under the impression Bylsma was off the books at the end of this season?

Postby **DigitalGypsy66** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:41 am

Think the Shero/Bylsma train will stop in Toronto next season?

Postby **columbia** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:41 am

I find it hard to believe that Larry Brooks has any information on the matter.

Postby **LITT** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:41 am

i find it hard to believe the pens would pay two coaches not to coach next year
I was under the impression Bylsma was off the books at the end of this season?

oh i thought he still had one more year

Postby **thehockeyguru** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:43 am

No. He signed a two year extension at the end of the Boston sweep. So he was on the books for the Rangers collapse and this season.

Postby **LITT** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:44 am

i retract my statement

YouTube · Postby **mikey** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:44 am

Larry Brooks...? lol. ok. The guy that said Lemieux would play for the Rangers...sounds good...

Postby **thehockeyguru** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:47 am

I dont think he has any sources, just taking an educated guess that he wont be around.

What other decent options are there? I dont get the sense that the Pens are going to offer Babcock a lot of money and control of the fron office like other teams might.

Postby **NAN** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:50 am

Larry Brooks also thought Lemieux would sell the team and trade himself to the Rangers.

Postby **meecrofilm** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:51 am

i find it hard to believe the pens would pay two coaches not to coach next year

Yes, because this organization has been a shining example of illustrating a clear vision and demonstrating shrewd, logical decision-making these past few years. Nothing would really surprise me at this point.

Postby **the wicked child** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:56 am

I think Bylsma does have another year left. Yes, he did sign a 2 year extension following the Boston debacle, but I believe he had a season left on his previous contract still.

Postby **Avyran** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 11:01 am

Various places (such as this THN article) say that Bylsma had two years left on his contract at the time of his firing. From PG...

Mr. Bylsma got to put his family's fears to rest when instead of getting the axe, he got a contract extension of two years that will take him through the 2015-16 season.

Postby **MalkinIsMyHomeboy** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 11:06 am

are we sure Rob Rossi isn't leading a double life as a NY Post writer?

Postby **Craig** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 11:27 am

I would read rossi sooner than brooks.

Postby **Solidsnake** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 12:08 pm

Where's the article

Postby **thehockeyguru** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 12:18 pm

Various places (such as this THN article) say that Bylsma had two years left on his contract at the time of his firing. From PG...
Mr. Bylsma got to put his family's fears to rest when instead of getting the axe, he got a contract extension of two years that will take him through the 2015-16 season.

I know the Pens signed him to a 2 year extension after the Bruins sweep. He must have had a year left on his old deal then.

Is that the same off-season where Shero extended Dupuis / Kunitz and brought back Scuderi?

Postby **Clams Herbert** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 12:23 pm

Interesting comment on the NBC Sports Talk article about the Pens.

While I agree that Rossi’s rants are usually just that, there’s some truth to the message, even if I think his facts are completely out of left field.

I teach online classes for one of the smaller schools in the Pittsburgh area, and I often use the Pens as an example for a concept known as “Hubris comes before the fall”:

*Under Shero and Disco, the Pens were a VERY cocky team. They walked through every regular season, and expected a walk to the Cup to be just as easy every Spring. That never quite happened that way, and it certainly isn’t the way the system works.

*Sid had it too easy growing up. Dominate minor hockey, juniors, get drafted, then he only saw one bad team with the Pens before a playoff berth, a Cup Final berth, then a Cup. He’s never had to fight up until now. I’m not bashing him, nor am I calling him a prima donna. He’s only know learning that staying on top of the mountain is harder than getting there in the first place.

*That collective personality is why they are where they are. Calls not going their way, the Flyers getting under their skin so easily… they’re used to rolling over the opposition like they’re a JV team. They became an over confident “bully” that doesn’t know how to react when someone fights back.

*Add the lack of person in the locker room to tell Sid and Geno that their crap stinks, just like the rest of us. (Reportedly Bill Geurin during the Cup run) Only a select few on the roster are not star struck by Sid & Geno, and they seem to be lacking a mouth piece to keep them grounded.

Looking back on it, I think Torts’s rant from a couple years ago was a lot more spot on that people ever gave him credit for. This organization DID need a change of culture. It was knocked off its pedestal a long time ago, and it needed someone to come in and tell them that, to get them fired up to get back to that spot…

I’m just not sure if who they hired are the right people to do it. Go Pens.

Postby **columbia** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 12:26 pm

At a certain point, they are grown men and should be self-motivated.

Postby **thehockeyguru** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 12:38 pm

I personally think Johnston is the least of our problems. I think the #1 priority is for GMJR to get rid of as many bad contracts as possible.

Postby **Trip McNeely** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 12:55 pm

For me, I'm excited to actually see a coach that will consider playing matchups in the playoffs. I wouldn't count out Johnston yet, the guy has a good hockey mind. Honestly I wouldnt be surprised to see him outcoach Vigneault this series. It might not be enough still though