"It's A Great Day For Hockey"

Well folks much to my pleasure and others dismay, Ray Shero with the blessing of Mario signed Dan Bylsma to a two year contract extension along with assistant coaches Tony Granato and Todd Reardon. It was the right thing to do for several reasons: Dan has gotten the Pens to the playoffs every year he has been here and usually as a higher rated seed. Dan has gotten the team to the conference finals twice in 5 years with a chance to with the Stanley Cup. Dan won the Jack Adams award getting the Pens to the playoffs without Geno and Sid. Dan helped get Paul Martin and Matt Cooke turned around successfully. Dan is well respected by the entire team and organization.

The Penguins are, I believe, one of the premier organizations in all of sports. Mario is a class guy who runs a class organization. Their popularity has soared to be like that of the Steelers. In fact I am friends with several of the "Brinzers" - our great friends from the British Penguins Fan Club and follow tweets from a Penguins fan club in Brazil and Poland.  Don't you think Mario wants class people to run his organization ? He recognizes that with Dan who is a class act.

I have heard it all from benching players who should be in the lineup to playing Iginla on his off wing to not adjusting during the games.........The only comment I say is to look at the score from games 3 & 4 against Boston and if one of those shots that hits the post goes in we could have gone 7 games and........Point is the series with the exception of game 2 was razor close. This is something that Ray Shero and Mario recognized along with the fact they have a class guy already in place. I have seen a lot of coaches who did not deserve to be behind the bench, were not repected or well liked by the players, or over emotional - names like Kevin Constatntine, Ed Olczyk, and Michele Therrein come to mind. Or what about the antics of Boudreau or Tortorella ?

Today is a significant day in the history of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Ray & Mario chose not to have a knee jerk reaction and put great faith in Dan and his staff. You can rest assured that tweaks will be made that will get us to that moment where we see Sid carry the Stanley Cup again.

It truly is without a doubt "A Great Day For Hockey" ! Let's Go Pens !

Pittsburgh Penguins 2013 Post Playoff Thoughts

There have been plenty of words written already dissecting, dicing, and finely mincing the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Pittsburgh Penguins. I am not going into the finely minced route but offer a few thoughts from a 40 plus year fan of the Penguins perspective.

Stay And Get Me Some Help

Ray Shero is a great GM. Made a number of blockbuster deals giving up picks. Only one in my book panned out. The Iginla deal was selfish on his part.I know he is a seasoned GM but I really feel he could use some mentoring.

Dan Byslma’s is a system coach. That has and continues to work well during the regular season. And please remember that we don't get to the playoffs without this system and we don't get home ice without it either. People need to remember that Dan has to answer to Ray Shero who answers to Mario. Sometimes lineup decisions are out of Dan’s hands as well as adjustments and scratches – this is something that most people aren’t aware of. Also, people quickly forget that Dan won the Jack Adams award two years ago for what he did with Sid and Geno out. People also need to remember that Dan rely's on his assistant coaches Todd Reardon and Tony Granatto - maybe a change there is warranted. 

Martin. Has scored some great goals. Good at shot blocking. But folks he can’t swat a fly off a table. Poor D zone coverage and only average speed. Could use serious help

Fluery. He plays light out during the regular season but really struggles since 2009 in the playoffs. It was great to her from Dan today that he is our starting goalie and Vokun is his backup.  He needs a new coach - the Pens goaltending coach Meloche is old school and also a mentor.

Going, Going........

Iginla is a future Hall of Famer. Hearing him being interviewed was inspirational. Seeing him play was uninspiring to say the least. Shots off the mark. No desire. No passion.  I believe his age has caught up to him. His salary is $7 million - Pen's cannot afford him.

Letang. He’s in line for the Norris Trophy . But he tries to be the hero on every play and thinks if he gets  caught out of position that his speed will make up. Horrendous puck management in the post season. Lost count of the number of turnovers.

Murray. Hits like Mack Truck at the speed of a turtle. His coverage in front was marginal at best. He is simply not worth the $2.5 million salary he is being paid.

Vitale. Seriously what has he done ?

Eaton. There was a reason the Islander let him go. It was painfully aware during the playoffs that the gas has run out of his tank.

Sign Him  Up !

Malkin. Sign him. Sign him. Sign him. He gets better each year and is maturing into the best player in the NHL. Gives Pens opponents plenty to have to try to defend against. Oh did I say sign him ?

Cooke. Turned his life around which in turn turned his life around. His does everything asked of him and then some. Excellent PK, grinding for pucks. Truly can't be measured all that he does for the team.

Dupis. Another sign him, sign him. One of the hardest working members of the team. Speed, great shot, superb PK, perfect on Sid's line. Worth a good raise for sure !

Adams. He is a steal at $675K. Does everything asked of him and then some. Tough, physical, gritty.

There will be changes. Some due to salary issues. Some due to not really fitting in the system, But the core of team will remain intact.

Shero can acquire some great talent and Dan can draw up the plays, but the bottom line is that the players have to produce. 

Let's have a positive outlook for next season. Let's give every NHL team a reason to 'Fear The Waddle" #FearTheWaddle !

Each and every day "It's A Great Day For Hockey"

"Let's Go Pens" !