The Pittsburgh Penguins have fired their head coach, Dan Bylsma. The decision was announced along with the hiring of new GM Jim Rutherford.
Bylsma took over behind the bench in 2009 and led the Pens to the Stanley Cup. He was awarded the Jack Adams award for best NHL coach in 2011. Bylsma leaves the Pens with a 252-117-32 record. He will likely find a team quickly as there are many teams still looking for a bench boss. Where it is he’ll go remains the main question.
One option is Pittsburgh’s rival, the Washington Capitals. The Caps fired Adam Oates as their head coach after a disappointing 2013-14 season. Bylsma knows Washington very well and would be a great fit if he was hired. He may also go to Vancouver, as John Tortorella was fired this past season. Maybe he will go to Rutherford’s previous team, the Carolina Hurricanes. Another rival of the Penguins, the Hurricanes are looking for a coach to help get them to the postseason, a place they have not been to since 2009 when the Penguins swept the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals.
My opinion on this move is that the Penguins should have kept him. He’s led the Penguins to some very good season finishes. Sure, he’s not out there scoring goals like Malkin or Crosby but without his leadership, I don’t think those guys would have had the opportunity to score the way they do. I’m not taking away from what they have done or their ability, but that’s how it is for every player in every sport. The coach or manager calls the plays and it’s the players’ job to make sure that those plays are run to perfection. Bylsma will look to find a contending team. It’ll be interesting to see where his career goes from here.
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