« Who Is Dan Bylsma And Can He Help The Pittsburgh Penguins?
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« Who Is Dan Bylsma And Can He Help The Pittsburgh Penguins?
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Website designed by Josh Townson. |
© 2007-08 Faceoff-Factor.com |
Comments
TheOneAndOnlySurge
Feb 17, 05:42 PM
Way way too late. Not saying that he should of been fired or not but, at this point the season is almost completely lost. Yes they are only 4 points out but the teams right around them are playing much better and a few have even lighter schedules than the Pens. Now add in a transition into a new coach, and lets just hope I’m wrong. It also seems evident that the players are the biggest issue and a few specific ones at that. All in all, two little, tow late.
This does put alot of pressure on Shero. Like someone else said in another topic, GMs are usually judge on a 5 year stand but it wouldn’t be the firts time a GM was ousted early. It is very unlikely that things will continue to ge down hill after this season but you never know.
Bag o' pucks
Feb 17, 05:52 PM
I really think this weekend — the three-in-four with Mont, Philly, and Wash — will decide if this team is going to make it or not. If the club can manage 4 or more points from those clubs, they have a shot. If the Pens limp out of this weekend with only one or two, I think they’re done.
Wonder if there’s any truth to that Staal & Whitney to Ottawa for Heatley & Neil rumor. I’d say go for it. Apparently, contract talks have opened between the Pens & Sykora. If those things pan out, that would give each of the two wunderkind centermen real snipers for a few years to come. Two legit scoring lines would be a nice thing to have back.
Bag o' pucks
Feb 17, 06:13 PM
Good ol’ Eklund is reporting a possible Malkin for Kovalchuk+ deal. Since it’s Ek, I’ll put no stock into this one. What a disastrous trade that would be for Pittsburgh, haha.
Pat
Feb 17, 07:34 PM
I would like to say that the way Shero let MT go was a classless act he waited th is long why not wait until they were back in Pgh and give himea chance to say good bye. Lets go back before the season started Shero waited too long for Hossa to make up his mind he shouldhave said sign or give me a chance to sign someone good in his place or give Malone the chance to refuse. Why keep Danny Sabourn and letConklin go . Yes he is right it starts with him and as far as I am concerned it was the cowards way out way too late. And Sidstill doesn!t have a winger. I am sure someone will sign MT and I hope it does not come back and bite Shero in the A
Matt Bodenschatz
Feb 17, 08:42 PM
Nice comments all around. I have to agree with Bag O’ Pucks in that the team’s playoff hopes live or die with this upcoming stretch of games. I no longer am the optimist I once was, but with Montreal and New York in absolute free falls, anything is possible.
Pat, Shero flew to New York to fire Therrien in person, and, while Therrien did not address the team prior to yesterday’s game, I highly doubt he has been or will be deprived of such an opportunity. All of Therrien’s quotes lead me to believe that he is grateful for everything Shero has done, including the classy way he was fired.
To add, the misconception that Shero waited too long for Hossa and therefor missed out on other quality wingers was put to rest by me last week. There was not a good crop of players to choose from, and a large portion of them were either overpaid, signed for too long, or had other major flaws. Malone, included in the study, signed for seven years at an average of $4.5 million — a price and term WAY too problematic for the Penguins. As for the Sabourin/Conklin issue, consider the following. Sabourin was signed for another year. Conklin was a free agent. Sabourin was okay with being a backup. Conklin made it clear, even while in Pittsburgh, that his goal was to play as a starter somewhere.
I understand the frustrations that stem from the team’s significant struggles, but blaming Shero for things that were out of his control is not going to change the fact that he hasn’t had much of an opportunity yet to build the team.
bag o' pucks
Feb 17, 09:07 PM
It was Hossa or bust for the Pens last summer. Once he decided to go elsewhere, the die was cast.
I was also under the impression that Malone was offered a six-year deal in the neighborhood of $21M that he rejected. Perhaps that was just rumor. Nonetheless, he received $1M/per more. At the time, I wholeheartedly agreed that $3.5M/per was the most Malone warranted. Still do. Bugsy figured he could get more elsewhere and he did. More power to him.
Shero’s opinion of what was left over is evident in the fact that he signed two guys to one-year deals. If he really liked Satan or Fedo, they wouldn’t be UFA in a few months. I guarantee you it wasn’t their choice to sign one-year deals.
Conklin banked on Detroit’s lone weakness – Osgood, despite his numbers in the playoffs – to falter. Like Hossa, he was right. Osgood wasn’t the #1 in Detroit all last season, Hasek was. A very well rested Osgood came into the playoffs with a huge chip on his shoulder and made the plays to win. But he can’t be a #1 for 60+ games and take a team to the Cup. Detroit brass knows it, Conklin knew it. That’s why Conks is the #1 in D-town right now and Osgood has plenty of time to take interviews complaining about NHL ads and conspiracy theories.
I’m hoping that one rumor I heard was true, and that’s Staal-Whitney to Ottawa for Heater-Neil. This season may be lost, anyway, but Heater would be a great fit for Crosby, and he’s under contract for several years. No rental player there.
jmont
Feb 17, 09:45 PM
I voted “too early” for one reason. Even though I think it should have happened a while back, Shero’s timing here was early.
He should have pulled the trigger today, or even after the game yesterday. Firing MT with around 20 hours left before a must-win game on the road was not well thought out. Half the staff didn’t know the team, and they were lucky to pull out even one point imo.
Also, Mr. “Bad Decisions” Heatley? I’d rather build a team with some integrity here(Steelers anyone?), and he’s never had that. Neal? I hope things aren’t so bad here that his services are actually wanted, much less required. Godard fights and takes penalties. The only thing unique about Neal is his uncanny ability to get suspended, otherwise he’s invisible and ineffective. Besides, Staal AND Whitney is overpaying. Anyway, I hope theres a better option than that out there.
bag o' pucks
Feb 17, 10:12 PM
I’m not here to defend Heatley, simply presenting something I heard that would make the Pens better, and that hypothetical deal undoubtedly would. I take it you’re referring to the car crash that cost a teammate his life. That was a horrific decision and terrible incident, but it was also 5 1/2 years ago. The guy has grown up. Dan Snider’s family forgave him, maybe you can let it go, too.
The Steelers? Championship rings sure do cloud the memory. Wasn’t your Superbowl MVP arrested before he ever played a down in the NFL? Bet you were glad a couple Sundays ago the kid grew up.
I’m guessing Neil is in the rumor because he’s overpaid and UFA at season’s end and Ottawa wants something for him. I’d have no problem taking on his contract for a month and letting him walk after the season. But to answer your question more directly, yes, the Pens do need grit and toughness. Goddard is it up front right now and he plays three minutes per game. Neil’s going to get his PIMs, but he’ll also log ten minutes per game and hit people, something only Orpik and Cooke do with regularity at present.
jmont
Feb 17, 11:03 PM
On the attack quickly. Comment on the rumor, not the poster, but people always read whatever they want. Whatever, no hard feelings.
As for Heatley, I don’t like the way he plays or his work ethic, much less comments he’s made to the press throughout his career. Not much integrity, as a player, as I said. The accident was one thing I wasn’t referring to, or I’d have spoken my mind and called him a killer.
I love how people always focus on the one. Yea, Holmes played well. No, I never said he had integrity. I said the team did. Lets take a look, ok? We let Porter go, and Burress. Aside from Holmes, the vast majority of that team are either stand-up guys or stop at doing stupid things on motorcycles. And the team has been that way throughout it’s history, so I say the word with as much accuracy as possible: Integrity.
Finally, as for Neal, we can get the same thing around the league for less, assuming teams will part with them. So yea, I don’t think he’s a good idea.
I agree we need grit, but I have a problem with some players. As a coach and player myself, there are those I can’t stand, though sometimes I have to. Some because of their decisions, split second or not, and others’ for their attitudes on and/or off the ice.
So, for the record, if I deem my opinion worthy to throw into a comment, I don’t do it to be argumentative. Attacking another or there comments is juvenile. But I suppose if there’s none to be had, I’ll save myself the time from now on.
daismog
Feb 17, 11:20 PM
I voted Poor Timing: Too Early, but Poor Timing: Too Late is essentially the same.
If management knew they would be changing their coach mid-season, they certainly should have made a move before the all-star break. That said, I think that at the All-Star break, the best move was no move.
Now, however, I don’t think that the new coach simply doesn’t have enough time to turn things around. On top of that, should the Pens make the playoffs this season, they have a coach who has half a season of AHL experience as a head coach.
For the tl;dr crowd, a coaching change at or before the midseason mark would have been okay, but at this point they were just as well off waiting things out and making a change in the off-season.
bag o' pucks
Feb 17, 11:28 PM
Jmont, why do you assume that I was attacking you? Explain where I attacked you. I was pointing out that it’s a dangerous game to judge athletes’ morals and ethics when you (or me, or any fan) know nothing about these guys other than headlines or newsworthy quotes. Pro athletes can do amazing physical things, and some make a lot of money for doing so. Otherwise, there’s nothing special about these people. They do stupid things, make the same stupid mistakes “regular” people make. Some grow up and learn from them. I suggested Holmes has, maybe Heatley has, too.
The Pens organization, now moreso than ever, has as much integrity as the Steelers. If the Steelers can suffer a guy who’s been arrested four times, I think the Pens could handle Heatley.
Neil, yeah, he’s overpaid. I said that. That’s why he’d be allowed to walk away after the season. But this club is dreadfully easy to play against. He’d fit the bill for a month. Then you find someone cheaper in the off-season when there are more options.
Now, regarding the cap, Heatley and Neil would come to an $8.6M cap hit. Whitney and Staal combined are $6.2. If necessary, Shero can (and would) put Boucher on the LTI list, free up his $2.5, there’s the fit. Fifty goal scorers aren’t a dime a dozen, and a cap hit of $7.5M is a comparitively decent rate. The Pens are paying Satan nearly half that and he may not hit 20 goals this year. I think it would be a worthwhile deal.
Then again, it’s probably a baseless rumor, anyway.
Matt Bodenschatz
Feb 17, 11:57 PM
I’ve got to be honest, I’m loving the discussion taking place at FF over the last week or so.
Typically, when things go bad — as the Penguins’ season clearly has — fans get into “jump off the bridge” mode.
For the most part, discussion has been of excellent quality, and that is an attribute to FF’s great readers.
Keep it up, as the discussion is what makes FF fun!
bag o' pucks
Feb 18, 12:07 AM
This time of year is fun, in general, because of all the speculation. Everyone has different opinions about who should be traded, who should be acquired, when none of us has a clue what’s going on in Shero’s office.
I consider both Crosby & Malkin untouchable. Fleury is close to that. Otherwise, I see no one on the Pens who, for the right deal, isn’t expendable. Staal and Whitney are easy targets because you just can’t pay a third line centerman $4M and, with Letang and Gogo, Whitney can be replaced for less (for now). If those two could net a lethal winger, especially one who’s under contract for several years, that’s got to be a deal the Pens consider. If one were available, that is…
Justin
Feb 18, 12:50 AM
I just have one question/comment. Quite simply, I am surprised that all of the talk about the Pens losing heart and soul players and locker room personalities has abounded this season and nobody has mentioned much of Ruutu. He seemed to carry quite a bit of the passion of this team out onto the ice in most games and was always doing his job and playing his role when it was necessary. He also always seemed to pick it up and take care of business when he needed to. I am not taking anything away from Cooke as his replacement because I think he is doing a phenomenal job at his position and role with this team. I am just wondering if he is the same personality in the locker room that Ruutu seemed to be during last years playoff run and whether or not anyone else may agree with me on that statement…and/or miss the old #37
DaBich
Feb 18, 06:52 AM
lol…you guys crack me up.
I agree Matt, the discussions have been great here at FF, I look forward to reading it every day. Keep up the pokes and jabs, guys, and of course, the good points too :)
TheOneAndOnlySurge
Feb 18, 09:49 AM
Ruutu is somewhat missed. There is no question his agitating is up there with the best. However, he also takes a decent amount of penalties, given this teams struggles this year that would of been more a burden than last year. I do think his point contribution is under rated. Ruutu may get less points but his point production, factored in with his agitating is pretty good. The only agitator that had seemed to both agitate as well as Ruutu and put up more points was Avery. Personally, I would rather see guys like Cooke on the ice than guys like Ruutu and Avery. Agitating is fine as long as your not taking cheap shots at stars in the league.
Rob your close. The major difference is that Mario had no supporting cast and Sid has a couple other high profile players. Straka, Lang, Kovalev and Morozov where the only supporting cast members for Mario. Unfortunately, those guys where never all clicking at the same time. Sid however has guys like Malkin, Sykora, Staal, Gonchar, Letang and even Fleury to help support him and they all where clicking last year. I think Sid can and will carry these guys to the cup but I think a few pieces are left in the puzzle. Mainly wingers, not superstars but at least some quality guys. Don’t get me wrong Dupuis and Kennedy have some pluses but neither should be top line forwards. Dupuis can skate fast and shoot a very hard slap shot, but he has no hands and can’t receive a pass. Kennedy has a little girt for his size and can skate well, he also has a very accurate wrist shot. But again, he has stiff hands and has trouble receiving passes. Satan has the hands but he is too slow and too soft. He is a very soft Sykora at best. We all know Sykora is not the toughest guy on the block but he will put in the work. He will battle along the boards and take a hit to make a play. That is what we need. A player who has some hands and can take a hit to make a play.
Moq
Feb 18, 12:42 PM
I went for the “Poor timing (too early)” choice. Mainly because I don’t see the potential benefits of appointing an interim coach with little experience at a comparable level of coaching. There’s always the chance of a miracle, but it isn’t a recommendable managerial strategy under most circumstances. At least if reaching the playoffs is as essential as the Shero comments indicate. If not, my choice would be to allow Therrien and the players to sink or swim together. Perhaps stimulated by a few roster moves.
Dismissing Therrien earlier for either a stop gap or permanent replacement was the other option. I’m not terribly sentimental when it comes to firing a coach, but I believe in the credit system. And reaching the Stanley Cup finals buys some leeway in my book regardless of perceived ability by the general masses. That might be a little naive in the world of pro sports, but that’s how it is.
As for the trade rumours, I like the idea of aquiring Heatley, even for a steep price. The likelihood of it happening appears minute at best. I’m still betting on minor adjustments as the evetual trade deadline result. My main hope is the abscence of a shortsighted panic move by Shero.
Matt, I agree with the level of input and discussion at this site. A splendid alternative to the usual message board bickering on often encounters.
DAVID SCOTT
Feb 18, 01:02 PM
Rob,
We get it! You are a Crosby basher. Every opportunity you get to put down Crosby or hijack the board into a ridiculous discussion about “Trade Crosby” you just can’t restrain yourself.
I can only guess you are a Flyer’s fan!
I, for one, would like to discuss reality, not some delusion you have that Crosby is going anywhere.
If you want to discuss how to improve the team, GREAT! If you want to discuss how the Pens should have done differently, fine! If you want to honestly compare your favorite team to the Pens, I am there!
But all I see is Crosby bashing.
Please! Get over your Crosby-fixation. The repetition of your posts, on ANY article, is getting absurd.
Dave
Feb 18, 01:27 PM
There are 50 points left to get and the Pens need 34 or so of them. 2 out of every 3. So they need at least 4 points this weekend, especially given that two of the teams (Montreal and New York) aren’t playing very well. They have no margin of error to lose to teams like that. They just threw away three more points with those losses to Toronto and NYI.
Looking at this somewhat detachedly, there isn’t a lot of reason to think the Pens can play with any degree of consistency the rest of the season. Bylsma says he wants to play in an aggressive, up-tempo, 60 minute, heavy on the forechecking game. I think Therrien watched the Pens and decided a passive, down-tempo, 20 minute, stand-here game had more chance of success. Quick, name all the fast, aggressive, 60-minute forecheckers on the Pens.
If Therrien is to be taken at his word, he said that he didn’t see the change coming at all. I thought that a bit odd, if true. In my working experience, bosses tend to let those who work for them know where they stand and how they think they’re doing. In the absence of Shero telling Therrien that he wasn’t doing a good job, Therrien seems justified to me in being surprised. No coach had more points in the previous two years, two games from the Cup last year, and the team he had to work with this year was significantly worse than the one he had last year (sans Hossa, Gonchar, Conklin, et al). If Shero thought Therrien was too much of a pain in the ass to his players, that is something that could have been worked on in several ways.
I also agree with the guy who said that firing him right before the NYI game was a bad idea. I think they’d have been more likely to win that with Therrien, then give Bylsma a couple practices to get going.
And the Pens really don’t want Heatley or Neil. Ottawa has been lousy since their Finals appearance a few years ago. If Heatley and Neil weren’t part of the reason they’d been lousy, Ottawa wouldn’t be shopping them. I don’t see them being a good influence on or off the ice. If the Pens move Stahl, they need to get some sure fire quality in return.
bag o' pucks
Feb 18, 04:26 PM
“Ottawa has been lousy since their Finals appearance…”
True. Though, so have the Pens. Some kind of on-ice change will have to be made to improve that.
Dave
Feb 18, 05:31 PM
True that. I just think that Stahl and Whitney are worth more than Heatley, as I don’t think Neal is worth much at all. His accomplishments this year include 6 points in 44 games, 127 penalty minutes and a solid -12. Heatley, on the other hand, has 51 points and is -7. About 10 points more than Sykora. Stahl and Whitney seem like a lot for that, to me. To say nothing of the age differential. Heatley is likely on the downside of his career, unlike Stahl or Whitney.
bag o' pucks
Feb 18, 06:36 PM
I think Heatley is only about two years older than Whitney, he’s 28. So, he’s in his prime. May just be a situation where a change would do him good.
My intention isn’t to focus solely on Heatley, rather, it was something that I heard that caught my attention because I was under the impression that Ottawa was more interested in moving Spezza. On the other hand, if they move Spezza, they have virtually no top-end centermen. I would imagine the Sens would be interested in Whitney as they have very little offense from the blueline. There’s nothing to confirm that the Sens (or the Pens, for that matter) are shopping anyone in particular. Just speculation. The Sens may be waiting for the Bouwmeester sweepstakes, at any rate, and that won’t conclude until about 11:58est on the 4th.
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