Fitzgerald Steps Down As Assistant Coach, But Remains With Team

Matt Bodenschatz | Pittsburgh Penguins

Jul 3, 12:29 PM | Hype this story!

Amid the frenzy of free agency, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero has yet another departure to worry about, though this one is not a player.

According to the Penguins’ website, assistant coach Tom Fitzgerald has chosen to step down as an assistant coach, but will remain with the team.

His new position, one created specifically for him, will be titled “assistant to the general manager,” though it should not be confused with “assistant general manager.”

Per the website, “He will monitor the progress of Penguins prospects in junior hockey, college, Europe and with the club’s AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He also will advise Shero on personnel decisions.”

His promotion of sorts will allow him to spend more time with his wife and kids at their New England home. It also leaves Shero with yet another hole to fill, though indications are that head coach Dan Bylsma will have primary say in who his new assistant will be.

The Penguins also announced that Dan MacKinnon will step into a role filled by Fitzgerald prior to his shift to the coaching staff in February, director of player personnel.

MacKinnon, promoted from his scouting position, “will oversee all aspects of the Penguins’ professional scouting operation in North America and Europe. He also will work closely with Director of Amateur Scouting Jay Heinbuck to ensure that the Penguins have a comprehensive scouting network at all levels of hockey.”

Comments

  1. bag o' pucks

    Jul 3, 12:38 PM

    It’s a good reward for an excellent job done by Fitz, stepping in when HCDB & Shero needed him and doing a helluva job. Congrats to Fitz. Now, about Yeosy…

  2. Matt Bodenschatz

    Jul 3, 01:25 PM

    @Bag, I actually don’t mind Yeo if his role is to coach the defense and penalty kill. When Bylsma came in, he did a nice job keeping the defense in line, despite the offensive approach preached by Bylsma. Where he struggled was with the power play.

    I suspect the new assistant will be hired specifically to coach the offense and power play, thus allowing Yeo to focus on his coaching strengths.

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