Pittsburgh fires GM Ray Shero - Head Coach Dan Bylsma NOT fired

[CarltonTheBear]

I don't think that's necessarily an issue of construction though. Boston had essentially the exact same 4th line this year as they did last year where they got within two games of the cup.

I didn't really mean to knock Boston there or say that they're out because their depth scoring was lower than Montreal or New York. I was just showing that Boston had more offence from their bottom-6 than Pittsburgh even though the Bruins 4th line was an offensive black hole.

As for my "you need offensive production from all 4 lines" comment, yes there are exceptions to every rule and Boston proved that when they won the Cup and almost proved it again last season. But in both those years they were incredibly strong 1 through 9 so they were able to overcome their lack of offence from the 4th line. Pittsburgh wasn't able to overcome that because their drop-off starts at 5 and their best player shot 2.6%.

 

[Frank E]

I think calling them underachievers is a little unfair.  And to the point about their depth being suspect, it's not like Crosby and Malkin put the team on their shoulders this spring. 

Wouldn't that tie into the depth issue?  No 2 players on any team can do it all and will always have stretches of below-their-standard play that better depth could help offset.

I'm more arguing that they got pretty deep into the playoffs with their current group, and without huge contributions from Crosby/Malkin...so maybe Shero's construction wasn't that bad at all. 

They obviously didn't get as far as they had hoped, but from a bird's eye view relative to the rest of the league, they had a pretty solid season.

They're either a disappointment because of their talent level, or that's about as good as they could have done with the talent they had.  I get the feeling that some are trying to argue both points at the same time...and I'm also not saying that you are one of those people.

 

[Kin]

As for my "you need offensive production from all 4 lines" comment, yes there are exceptions to every rule and Boston proved that when they won the Cup and almost proved it again last season. But in both those years they were incredibly strong 1 through 9 so they were able to overcome their lack of offence from the 4th line. Pittsburgh wasn't able to overcome that because their drop-off starts at 5 and their best player shot 2.6%.

I was more saying that I'm not sure it's a rule or, to the extent that it is, I think it's less an issue of how a team is built in terms of depth and more just about how if a fourth line is scoring, which I think is almost a random occurrence, it provides a big advantage that can't really be game planned for. Like, Montreal got more production out of their bottom 6 but I don't know if that can necessarily be attributed to having a better bottom 6.

 

[Peter D.]

What are the chances of the new GM retaining Bylsma after all that's gone on in Pittsburgh the last few years?  My guess is minimal. 

Cut the cord, and don't potentially screw the guy out of another head coaching gig.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

I think calling them underachievers is a little unfair.  And to the point about their depth being suspect, it's not like Crosby and Malkin put the team on their shoulders this spring. 

Wouldn't that tie into the depth issue?  No 2 players on any team can do it all and will always have stretches of below-their-standard play that better depth could help offset.

I'm more arguing that they got pretty deep into the playoffs with their current group, and without huge contributions from Crosby/Malkin...so maybe Shero's construction wasn't that bad at all. 

They obviously didn't get as far as they had hoped, but from a bird's eye view relative to the rest of the league, they had a pretty solid season.

They're either a disappointment because of their talent level, or that's about as good as they could have done with the talent they had.  I get the feeling that some are trying to argue both points at the same time...and I'm also not saying that you are one of those people.

I think probably some of the angst stems from the fact these are Crosby and Malkin's prime years and so each successive failure to win probably sees that window closing smaller and smaller.  Not that they're not still going to have a great shot for a number of years, but I'm sure it's seen as a wasted opportunity.

I don't know though, that's my guess.

 

[Kin]

What are the chances of the new GM retaining Bylsma after all that's gone on in Pittsburgh the last few years?  My guess is minimal.

Unless the new GM comes into the situation with a very specific idea in place about changes he wants to see tactically and doesn't feel Bylsma can accomplish that then I think there are pretty good odds, actually. Unless you think that it was an issue of motivation that caused Crosby to not play his best or for Fleury to not be very good, why dump someone who's got a proven track record of good results with this group because of poor roster construction? Outside of tossing meat to hungry wolves, I mean.

 

[moon111]

Poor guy probably lost his job for losing the David Clarkson sweepstakes.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Shero...heavy criticism in recent months for the Penguins? lack of depth and having never built a solid supporting cast around Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

...Bob McKenzie of TSN and Nick Kypreos of SportsNet linked him to the
Capitals? vacancy.

Shero and Barry Trotz, arguably the best coaching candidate available, worked together in Nashville and have a good relationship. Earlier this week, Trotz
said he was interested in the Capitals? coaching job but added that team
planned to hire a general manager first. The two could be reunited on a new
team for next season, but whether it will be with Washington remains to be seen.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capitals-insider/wp/2014/05/16/pittsburghs-firing-of-ray-shero-gives-capitals-a-new-general-manager-candidate/

 

[seahawk]

So apparently former Pens assistant and current NBC analyst Pierre McGuire is being considered for the job.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=453814

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Please hire Pierre McGuire.

 

[bustaheims]

TSNBobMcKenzie: Jim Rutherford is going to be announced as the new GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins. #TSN

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

That's significantly less funny.

 

[Corn Flake]

That's significantly less funny.

Poor Pierre has a sad.

At least he now has the summer off to invent some new words.  "Activication" needs some friends.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

TSNBobMcKenzie: Jim Rutherford is going to be announced as the new GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins. #TSN

Odd. I figured he stepped down from the Canes because he was looking to slow down/partly retire. I don't think he's a very good GM though, so I'm not complaining.

 

[Corn Flake]

TSNBobMcKenzie: Jim Rutherford is going to be announced as the new GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins. #TSN

Odd. I figured he stepped down from the Canes because he was looking to slow down/partly retire. I don't think he's a very good GM though, so I'm not complaining.

Based on this, it seems like he was told to slow down/retire by Karmanos.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Based on this, it seems like he was told to slow down/retire by Karmanos.

Yeah, he obviously earned the right to not technically be fired after 20 years on the job.

 

[bustaheims]

That's significantly less funny.

Well, it's a different kind of funny.

 

[bustaheims]

LouisJean_TVA: Dan Bylsma has been fired. #Penguins

So . . . they just kept him so the new guy could fire him?

 

[L K]

LouisJean_TVA: Dan Bylsma has been fired. #Penguins

So . . . they just kept him so the new guy could fire him?

Makes sense though.  I mean if the guy they hired says the fault was entirely on Shero and not the coach, why fire him and then be stuck in an awkward situation of bringing someone else into the picture.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

That decision sounds like it took 2 seconds.