Dan Bylsma named new WBS Head Coach

Eric Politowski | WBS "Baby" Penguins

Aug 4, 03:23 PM | Hype this story!

It was learned that last year’s Baby Penguins’ head coach Todd Richards would be leaving to help coach the San Jose Sharks. Now, last year’s assistant coach is the new head coach.

Dan Bylsma has been officially named the new head coach for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Baby Penguins. Bylsma was an outstanding assistant coach the previous year, and will do great at his new position.

Now, the Penguins must look for an assistant coach. Dennis Bonvie’s name comes up, but that is if he wants to stay with hockey. He retired this year, and he may want to remain at home with his family.

Comments

  1. Pens1967

    Aug 4, 03:28 PM

    Since Bonvie was essentially an enforcer, what would he bring to coaching?

  2. Matt Bodenschatz

    Aug 4, 04:16 PM

    Pens, oftentimes the best coaches come from non-skill roles. Hiring Bonvie as an assistant may or may not be a good idea — I tend to lean toward not — but his role as a goon during his playing career doesn’t necessarily mean that is how he will coach. And, to be honest, if he is hired, I highly doubt he’ll be permitted to teach his players to become goons. Sure, he may help encourage a rough and tumble game and he may teach young enforcers the ropes of the fighting aspect of the game, but there’s much more that is needed from an assistant, which leads me to believe that, if he’s hired, he’ll have some sort of leash on.

    Tom, I believe that is the third or fourth time that exact piece has been posted on FF. For bandwidth purposes I ask that you post things once and only once. And, if you think the Pens are heading toward goonism, you’re not watching what is going on. Godard is a goon, yes. Cooke? Far from it. He’s a Ruutu replacement and will serve as an agitator with more skill than the player his replaced. By my estimation, the Penguins have lost toughness this summer and will rely more on finesse and speed to defeat opponents. Their signings point to this.

    Physical Out:
    Malone
    Ruutu
    Roberts
    Laraque
    Hall

    Physical In:
    Cooke
    Godard
    Stone (potentially)

  3. THEONEANDONLYSURGE

    Aug 4, 05:08 PM

    I’m not sure I understand how Talbot and Letang are even close to being physical presences. Talbot is 5’11 190lbs soaking wet. Letang is listed at 6’0 201lbs but I’m not sure thats even accurate. How can they possibly be consiered a physical player when most guys in the league are above 210lbs? Don’t get me wrong Letang and Talbot are great at using their small frames but to consider them physical players is a joke.

  4. Pens1967

    Aug 4, 05:42 PM

    Matt, I agree that sometimes the non-star, grinder type players make better coaches. But, as you said, there are only two coaches at WBS so that’s a lot of work to divide up. I’m just not sure what kind of a student of the game Bonvie is. He’ll be required to teach, break down tape, etc. Regardless of how popular he was to fans and teammates, that doesn’t mean he’d make a good coach.

    Surge, Letang is a lot stronger than you might think.

    I’m interested in what would recommend him as a coach.

  5. Eric

    Aug 4, 05:45 PM

    I’ll rely on a cliche often applied to sports.

    “Those who can’t do. Teach.”

  6. Matt Bodenschatz

    Aug 4, 06:04 PM

    Pens1967, Jon Bombulie covers the Baby pens for the local newspaper in WBS. He said he right after Richards left that he wouldn’t be surprised if Bonvie got the head coaching job. He also added that he wouldn’t necessarily be opposed to it. I tend to think of JB as a very knowledgeable hockey analyst, and since he has such close connections with the Baby Pens, I trust his judgment on the minor leaguers. Even so, this one seems somewhat curious.

  7. Pens1967

    Aug 4, 07:57 PM

    Matt, I did read Bombulie’s comment about Bonvie. I was just curious what qualities Bonvie has that recommend him for this job.

    Eric, thanks. The same cliche crossed my mind as well.

  8. Eric

    Aug 4, 07:59 PM

    Personally, I’ll never forget all those times Jeff Taffe finished those crunching checks right in between him laying out the other players…

  9. Matt Bodenschatz

    Aug 6, 09:44 PM

    Consider the source.

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