[News] Penguins extend Bylsma through 2015/2016

[Voodooman]

As per team's Twitter feed, Penguins have extended contract of head coach Dan Bylsma for 2 years, through the 2015/2016 season.

I'm honestly stunned. After that performance against Boston, you'd think that someone would pay the piper, and it seemed like Bylsma got badly, badly outcoached by Claude Julien. There's no doubt that the Pens stars didn't perform, but it looked like Boston got every matchup they wanted.

Did Ray Shero fall on his head sometime between the trade deadline and now?

[I_H8_Crawford]

The meltdown on Penguins boards is going to be epic....

Overall though, the guy got the team to the conference finals, still one of the top teams in the NHL every regular season - hard to blame the coach when his team overall scores 2 goals in 4 games.

[kyuss275]

Wow i was 50/50 that he would get fired, but i did not think he would get extended. I wonder how this effects Iggy's chances of staying with Pitt? For Iggy to stay, him and Bylsma will have to have a long talk. No chance Iggy will stay if Bylsma wants to play him on the 3rd line.

[Erick Estrada]

Can't fault Shero for sticking with his man however I'm not sure how they can expect better playoff results from a coach that has been outcoached badly in the playoffs four straigh seasons now. I feel when you are in a 'Win now' mode that regular season success isn't enough for a coach to keep his job if he continues to fail in the playoffs especially in the spectacularly poor fashion the Penguins have in the past two seasons. I expect this contract buys Blysma one more season and if the crash and burn in the playoffs next season they will eat the rest of the deal.

I'm no GM or expert on coaches but it's been a long time since I remember a head coach that had so much talent on his team and so few answers or adjustments in a best of seven series.

[Mango]

More status quo:

@penguins 12m "I'm not getting rid of Marc-Andre Fleury." -Shero

@penguins 11m "It's difficult to replace 40 wins a year from M-A Fleury. I don't believe I can replace that. He can get back to where he was 08-09" -Shero

@penguins 11m
"The faith I have in Fleury hasn't waned, nor has it with Dan (Bylsma)." -Shero

‏@penguins 10m
"We have 2 really good goaltenders. That's a positive for us. I look forward to them coming back and winning games." -Shero

Mmm k.

[SportsJunky]

Huh. Seems like Shero is too close to the problem to be objective.

[Stay Golden]

Wow that didn't take long to decide. I thought he sort of lost the room so to speak during the playoffs.
There appeared to be tension between Bylsma and a few players including Crosby.
Perhaps Shero did not like the alternative of who is out there?
I think Bylsma is a good motivator but maybe the fact he has such a stellar roster hides some of his pitfalls as a HC.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Mango

More status quo:

@penguins 12m "I'm not getting rid of Marc-Andre Fleury." -Shero

@penguins 11m "It's difficult to replace 40 wins a year from M-A Fleury. I don't believe I can replace that. He can get back to where he was 08-09" -Shero

@penguins 11m
"The faith I have in Fleury hasn't waned, nor has it with Dan (Bylsma)." -Shero

‏@penguins 10m
"We have 2 really good goaltenders. That's a positive for us. I look forward to them coming back and winning games." -Shero

Mmm k.

Kiss of death

[t0rrent98]

Nice to see him getting extended. It wasn't really his fault as his star players weren't performing.

[Samiz]

Pittsburgh Penguins ‏@penguins 6m "The opportunity to get Jarome Iginla, I would do it again." -Shero




Well he has the opportunity right now, so let's see what happens

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Samiz

Pittsburgh Penguins ‏@penguins 6m "The opportunity to get Jarome Iginla, I would do it again." -Shero




Well he has the opportunity right now, so let's see what happens

No crap you would do it again. You only gave up a late 1st for Iggy and a couple of filler prospects. Shero got his money worth on that trade before the playoffs even started.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Mango

More status quo:

@penguins 12m "I'm not getting rid of Marc-Andre Fleury." -Shero

@penguins 11m "It's difficult to replace 40 wins a year from M-A Fleury. I don't believe I can replace that. He can get back to where he was 08-09" -Shero

@penguins 11m
"The faith I have in Fleury hasn't waned, nor has it with Dan (Bylsma)." -Shero

‏@penguins 10m
"We have 2 really good goaltenders. That's a positive for us. I look forward to them coming back and winning games." -Shero

Mmm k.

Those are some surprising comments. I thought if anything came out of the Penguins getting smashed out of the ECF (or the 2013 playoffs in general) is that MAF should be on his way out and Bylsma was likely going to be losing his job as well.

I understand that MAF has had success with the Penguins but after losing the starting role like that I would certianly question whether the "40 wins per year" are because of Fleury or in spite of him.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Wow i was 50/50 that he would get fired, but i did not think he would get extended. I wonder how this effects Iggy's chances of staying with Pitt? For Iggy to stay, him and Bylsma will have to have a long talk. No chance Iggy will stay if Bylsma wants to play him on the 3rd line.

I dont think Iggy was ever going to stay unless he takes a very steep discount and changes his game a little.

[GreenLantern]

Iggy is out of there, I hope for his and the Pens sake anyway.. it just wasn't a good fit outside of the PP.

[Voodooman]

Originally Posted by Wolven

Those are some surprising comments. I thought if anything came out of the Penguins getting smashed out of the ECF (or the 2013 playoffs in general) is that MAF should be on his way out and Bylsma was likely going to be losing his job as well.

I understand that MAF has had success with the Penguins but after losing the starting role like that I would certianly question whether the "40 wins per year" are because of Fleury or in spite of him.

I couldn't agree more, and I stated in the CF thread that I was 100% sure that Fleury would be bought out. You would think that after his embarassing performance against the Flyers last year, and his lacklustre follow-up this year, that he would be shipped out of town ASAP. It's not like the Pens are similar to the Flames or Oilers where a goalie who can get you to the playoffs is sufficient. That team is built to compete for the Cup, and I just don't think that Fleury is capable of leading them there. And I also think that the room likely has very little confidence in him.

You would think that Mario has to be on board with these decisions. I just don't understand the thought process at all. How you can say "we're all good with what we have" after that beating is just unfathomable to me.

[GreenLantern]

Imagine if the Pens didn't have Vokoun and they went out in the first round to the Isles.. which is exactly what would have happened. The fan base would be frothing at the mouth.. I don't see how Vokoun saving the day and taking them to the ECF only to be swept makes things "Ok" with what they have..

Then again I don't expect Shero to just come out and say "Yes MA is gone.."

[sun]

Talk is cheap.

[djsFlames]

Oh goodness..

In what other ways does MAF have to flop to finally wake these guys up? Your starter shouldn't have to sit for 2+ rounds, ever. Especially on a 'cup' team. Those 40 wins are due to the offense of the team in front of him and the fact that the intensity of the playoffs does not exist. Regular season success is being way over valued. With a roster like theirs, you should just expect it, even with a cardboard cutout manning the net.

I think Shero is a little too sentimental. Saddest part is it's gonna cost him a potential cup or two the longer he keeps his goalies.

[DionTheDman]

Originally Posted by I_H8_Crawford

The meltdown on Penguins boards is going to be epic....

Overall though, the guy got the team to the conference finals, still one of the top teams in the NHL every regular season - hard to blame the coach when his team overall scores 2 goals in 4 games.

I don't buy these as reasons to justify his stay. His lineup is just too damn good to completely fail out. You could put Greg Gilbert in charge in Pittsburgh and he'd probably have some measure of success.

[Roof-Daddy]

Hard to replace Fleury's 40 wins every season?

Hahaha.

Just about every goalie in the league could probably get 40 wins playing behind that team.