If Bill Guerin is going to have one last kick at the NHL can this year at the tender age of 40, it won't be with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Pens' GM Ray Shero informed Guerin's camp a little more than a day ago that they would not be extending a contract offer to Guerin and had decided to go in a different direction.
Obviously, it was difficult to make that decision and pass the word to Guerin because he contributed greatly to the organization -- and the franchise's 3rd Stanley Cup -- since it acquired him on trade deadline day in 2009 from the New York Islanders for a conditional draft selection that ended up being a 3rd rounder.
His contributions aside, however, there were several concerns in the organization, particularly from the coaching staff, about whether or not Guerin could continue to contribute effectively this season -- especially if he was not able to maintain a role as a scoring forward on one of the top two lines.
Last year, Guerin had 21 goals and 24 assists for 45 points in 78 games. While he slumped noticably down the regular season stretch, Billy G did chip in 9 points in 11 playoff contests.
Personally, I don't have hard feelings either way about what Pittsburgh decided to do with #13. Had they brought him back at all, it would have had to have been cheap (read: under $1 million), and at that price, the risk would not have been that great. Even if he didn't produce, the Penguins wouldn't have been out much.
On the other hand, players Guerin's age hit the wall sometime. While guys like Chris Chelios and former Penguin Mark Recchi are exceptions to the rule, there simply aren't too many guys that can be effective in the league at 40. For that reason, I have little indigestion at letting Guerin walk.
Let's face it. Guerin was great when he was here. He contributed on the ice and was a meaningful leadership influence off the ice. But his time has come and gone. The Penguins were fortunate for what he added to the franchise when he did, but they made the right decision to give some younger forwards in the organization an opportunity. It's been a while since they grafted an impact forward on the team that wasn't picked first or second overall, and it's never going to happen unless guys like Eric Tangradi, Dustin Jeffrey or Nick Johnson get a legitimate opportunity. While Guerin would have brought leadership (which some would say they don't need any longer for that matter), he definitely would have taken a chance away from a young player denting the roster this season.
While talking about the forward ranks, some doubt surfaced yesterday about whether Selke Trophy finalist Jordan Staal would be ready for the start of training camp on September 18.
According to Shero, Staal has had 'a few setbacks' in his recovery from having a tendon in his foot torn with the skate blade of Montreal Canadiens rearguard P.K. Subban in game 1 of the teams' Eastern Conference Seminfinal series last year.
As almost all Penguin observers surely remember, Staal pulled his Bobby Baun at the time and returned after emergency surgery and just 2 games on the shelf.
As it was, though, Staal had to undergo a second procedure in June and, while the tendon seems to be fine, Staal hasn't had the ability to build up as much strength around the foot or develop his conditioning as well, since he still has difficulty and pain with getting that foot in a skate boot.
Staal plans to be looked at by team doctors next week and at that time, we all should have a better idea of whether Staal will be ready to participate full-go at the start of camp, or whether that may take a little longer (perhaps up to the start of the regular season).
There's been a lot of talk about GRONK moving up to play center on the 2nd line this year while Evgeni Malkin slides to wing, but if Staal isn't ready for game action come the start of camp (or the regular season), that experiment is going to have to be put on hold.
Interestingly, Staal's setbacks may provide an opportunity for one of his former linemates to show he still deserves a spot among the team's top 12 forwards.
Tyler Kennedy is firmly on the bubble going into this year's camp, despite the fact that he's pretty much been a fixture on the 3rd line with Staal and Matt Cooke the last 2 years.
Kennedy had an awful season last year and hasn't taken the step forward that Pens' management hoped he would. In last year's final 30 games and the playoffs, Kennedy made little impact on the ice, continuing his constant struggles to find consistency.
Kennedy has NHL skill and tenacity. The problem is that when he's missing the latter, the former tends to be absent as well.
TK is at his best when he's physical and in the opponent's kitchen. When he does that, he is more in the game and better likely to contribut offensively. But Kennedy seemed to lose that from his game last year, and he needs to get it back. Soon. Because if he doesn't, I could easily see him losing his roster spot. Pittsburgh didn't sign Aaron Asham to be a healthy scratch. In fact, my sources indicate that Pens' management told Asham when they signed him that he was going to 'start' on the 3rd line.
With Staal potentially out for some of the pre-season, it might give Kennedy even more of a chance -- particularly in game action -- to demonstrate he still belongs.
I guess we'll see.
More soon.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Pittsburgh In The Hockey Spotlight
Everybody knows how popular hockey in Pittsburgh is, and not just on a local scale.
That was reaffirmed for anyone who had doubts yesterday when the National Hockey League announced it's schedule of nationally televised contests for the coming season -- a slate which is likely to include putting 15% of the Penguins' games in the 2010/2011 season in front of a cross-country audience.
The list of their nationally televised games includes 8 games on Versus, starting with the October 7 home and arena opener at the Consol Energy Center against the arch rival Philadelphia Flyers.
Other games featured on Versus include December dates in Philadelphia and at home against the New York Rangers, a January, 2011 game against the Boston Bruins, and 4 games in February where the Pens host the New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks as well as play the Washington Capitals at home and on the road.
Versus also will cover 2 Penguin road games in March -- one against the Toronto Maple Leafs and another against the Detroit Red Wings -- before televising their 8th and final regular season game when Pittsburgh hosts the New Jersey Devils on April 5.
Of course, NBC will get in on the action, too, starting their season coverage on 1-1-11 with the Winter Classic between the Pens and Caps @ Heinz Field. They also have the option of picking up Penguin games on 3 consecutive Sundays in February when Pittsburgh plays at Washington, at the Rangers, and at the Chicago Blackhawks. They also can broadcast Pens' games on March 20 when they host the Rangers and on April 10 when they visit the Atlanta Thrashers.
Teams are limited to a maximum of 4 games on NBC, but rest assured that the Penguins are very likely to get those 4 contests. In addition to the Winter Classic, the Pens' games in February in DC and Chi-Town are certain to be covered. One of their games against the Rangers, either that month or in March, is likely to be selected as well.
Of course, the Penguins won't be the only hot hockey ticket in Pittsburgh this year.
Yesterday, the team announced that, in connection with the many Winter Classic festivities that the region will be hosting, the Consol Energy Center will be the stage for 2 games on 12-30 as a lead up to the big New Year's Day bash.
The first of those games will be an NCAA Division I contest between the Robert Morris Colonials and RIT. That contest will begin at 3 PM, and will be followed @ Consol with a game at 7:30 PM between the Penguins' minor-league affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, and their arch rivals -- fittingly, the Washington Capitals' minor league affiliate -- the Hershey Bears.
Undeniably, the eyes of many in hockey will continue to be focused on Pittsburgh this season.
Sometimes, things are just right in the world ....
More soon.
That was reaffirmed for anyone who had doubts yesterday when the National Hockey League announced it's schedule of nationally televised contests for the coming season -- a slate which is likely to include putting 15% of the Penguins' games in the 2010/2011 season in front of a cross-country audience.
The list of their nationally televised games includes 8 games on Versus, starting with the October 7 home and arena opener at the Consol Energy Center against the arch rival Philadelphia Flyers.
Other games featured on Versus include December dates in Philadelphia and at home against the New York Rangers, a January, 2011 game against the Boston Bruins, and 4 games in February where the Pens host the New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks as well as play the Washington Capitals at home and on the road.
Versus also will cover 2 Penguin road games in March -- one against the Toronto Maple Leafs and another against the Detroit Red Wings -- before televising their 8th and final regular season game when Pittsburgh hosts the New Jersey Devils on April 5.
Of course, NBC will get in on the action, too, starting their season coverage on 1-1-11 with the Winter Classic between the Pens and Caps @ Heinz Field. They also have the option of picking up Penguin games on 3 consecutive Sundays in February when Pittsburgh plays at Washington, at the Rangers, and at the Chicago Blackhawks. They also can broadcast Pens' games on March 20 when they host the Rangers and on April 10 when they visit the Atlanta Thrashers.
Teams are limited to a maximum of 4 games on NBC, but rest assured that the Penguins are very likely to get those 4 contests. In addition to the Winter Classic, the Pens' games in February in DC and Chi-Town are certain to be covered. One of their games against the Rangers, either that month or in March, is likely to be selected as well.
Of course, the Penguins won't be the only hot hockey ticket in Pittsburgh this year.
Yesterday, the team announced that, in connection with the many Winter Classic festivities that the region will be hosting, the Consol Energy Center will be the stage for 2 games on 12-30 as a lead up to the big New Year's Day bash.
The first of those games will be an NCAA Division I contest between the Robert Morris Colonials and RIT. That contest will begin at 3 PM, and will be followed @ Consol with a game at 7:30 PM between the Penguins' minor-league affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, and their arch rivals -- fittingly, the Washington Capitals' minor league affiliate -- the Hershey Bears.
Undeniably, the eyes of many in hockey will continue to be focused on Pittsburgh this season.
Sometimes, things are just right in the world ....
More soon.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Penguins Sign Winger Aaron Asham
With approximately one month until Training Camp 2010 -- and the first in the Consol Energy Center -- the Penguins made a very interesting signing this evening, inking 32-year old veteran unrestricted free agent winger Aaron Asham to a 1-year, $700,000 contract.
Asham, who played last year with the arch-rival Philadelphia Flyers, contributed 10 goals and 14 assists during the regular season to go along with 4 goals and 7 points in 23 post-season contests. He added 126 penalty minutes. He will give Pittsburgh a rugged, up-and-down game with some underrated offensive skill.
"He plays a style we like to play", said Penguins' GM Ray Shero.
Asham apparently was mulling over several contract proposals, including a few that put more money on the table than what the Penguins offered, but Asham was lured more by the chance to win with a Penguin team that again projects to be a Cup contender.
What I think is most curious about Asham's signing is that it fills one of what was expected to be 2 forward jobs up for grabs in camp -- spots that were expected to be filled, with any luck, by some of the younger players in the organization.
Going into training camp, and after not replacing several of their departing unrestricted free agent forwards, it seemed that guys like Nick Johnson, Dustin Jeffrey and Eric Tangradi were going to be given the first chances to fill those holes.
However, signing Asham reduces by one the number of those holes and, if RW Bill Guerin is brought back -- something that Shero is expected to settle sometime next week -- the Penguins will then just have about taken all opportunity for an impact role with the team away from their prospects.
Of course, another potential consequence of bringing in Asham would be to open up an opportunity to make a trade.
While I'm unaware of any rumblings about that at this juncture, I wouldn't rule it out entirely. A guy like Asham is a character guy who plays a lot like Max Talbot, for example.
Could Asham's signing portend moving Talbot? Maybe. But it could just as much be an indication that they are bringing in Asham to play Talbot's role and are counting on Max to instead play a more scoring role on one of the top 2 lines.
Again, a very interesting move. But a good one, in my estimation.
It's been a slow August, as it typically is, but I'll be ramping things up here in the near future, including a post containing my long-awaited analysis of how the Penguins' new blueline stacks up against the rest of the league. Look for that next week.
NOTES:
The Penguins' organization also announced in the last day or so that they have hired former defenseman Allan Nasreddine to be their assistant coach in Wilkes-Barre with the Baby Penguins. Nasreddine spent 4 or so years in the organization -- most of them in the AHL -- and he was well-respected with the team there and franchise as a whole. This will be his first foray into coaching and he shapes up as a good contrast with the new head coach (and former assistant), John Hynes, who is an up-tempo teacher that's probably better served focusing more on the forward group. I'm anxious to see what impact Nasreddine has on the organization's blueliners.
Asham, who played last year with the arch-rival Philadelphia Flyers, contributed 10 goals and 14 assists during the regular season to go along with 4 goals and 7 points in 23 post-season contests. He added 126 penalty minutes. He will give Pittsburgh a rugged, up-and-down game with some underrated offensive skill.
"He plays a style we like to play", said Penguins' GM Ray Shero.
Asham apparently was mulling over several contract proposals, including a few that put more money on the table than what the Penguins offered, but Asham was lured more by the chance to win with a Penguin team that again projects to be a Cup contender.
What I think is most curious about Asham's signing is that it fills one of what was expected to be 2 forward jobs up for grabs in camp -- spots that were expected to be filled, with any luck, by some of the younger players in the organization.
Going into training camp, and after not replacing several of their departing unrestricted free agent forwards, it seemed that guys like Nick Johnson, Dustin Jeffrey and Eric Tangradi were going to be given the first chances to fill those holes.
However, signing Asham reduces by one the number of those holes and, if RW Bill Guerin is brought back -- something that Shero is expected to settle sometime next week -- the Penguins will then just have about taken all opportunity for an impact role with the team away from their prospects.
Of course, another potential consequence of bringing in Asham would be to open up an opportunity to make a trade.
While I'm unaware of any rumblings about that at this juncture, I wouldn't rule it out entirely. A guy like Asham is a character guy who plays a lot like Max Talbot, for example.
Could Asham's signing portend moving Talbot? Maybe. But it could just as much be an indication that they are bringing in Asham to play Talbot's role and are counting on Max to instead play a more scoring role on one of the top 2 lines.
Again, a very interesting move. But a good one, in my estimation.
It's been a slow August, as it typically is, but I'll be ramping things up here in the near future, including a post containing my long-awaited analysis of how the Penguins' new blueline stacks up against the rest of the league. Look for that next week.
NOTES:
The Penguins' organization also announced in the last day or so that they have hired former defenseman Allan Nasreddine to be their assistant coach in Wilkes-Barre with the Baby Penguins. Nasreddine spent 4 or so years in the organization -- most of them in the AHL -- and he was well-respected with the team there and franchise as a whole. This will be his first foray into coaching and he shapes up as a good contrast with the new head coach (and former assistant), John Hynes, who is an up-tempo teacher that's probably better served focusing more on the forward group. I'm anxious to see what impact Nasreddine has on the organization's blueliners.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Penguins Ranked #1 In Fan Relations In All Of Professional Sports
While I bask on several levels in yesterday's arbitration decision that determined star winger Ilya Kovalchuk's record 17-year, $102 million contract with the New Jersey Devils was a contravention of the National Hockey League's collective bargaining agreement -- both because it's a blow to the Penguins' rival and because it's a validation of the opinion held by my own legal mind that the deal was violative of the agreement -- I want to talk about something else today.
Something much more 'hometown'.
And something that I don't believe got nearly enough pub when the news first came out.
The Pittsburgh Penguins organization has been ranked #1 in fan relations.
Not just in the NHL.
In ALL of professional sports.
Or, at least, so says ESPN The Magazine.
The study, released about a month ago, evaluated how much each team (122 in all) in the four (4) major professional sports -- NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL -- gave back to their fans in exchange for all the time, money and emotion invested in them.
The Magazine examined several factors for each franchise and ranked them to come up with a final 'Ultimate Ranking' for each team. The factors examined were: the players, bang for the buck, stadium experience, title track, coaching, ownership, affordability, and fan relations.
The 'fan relations' category measured 'openness and consideration towards fans by players, coaches and management' and, as I mentioned, the Penguins finished first in that category, ahead of such legendary sports franchises like the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Green Bay Packers.
Here is a piece trumpeting the Penguins well-deserved ranking in that particular category
And interestingly, the Detroit Red Wings were right behind them in 'fan relations' among all sports franchises.
Better still, in the overall 'Ultimate rankings', the Penguins were the top-rated NHL franchise, and the 5th of all 122 teams evaluated.
Helping place the Pens there were high rankings in several categories other than just its top finish in 'fan-relations'.
For instance, they were third in the 'title track' rankings (thanks Ray) and 'ownership' (thanks Ron and Mario).
The Penguins also finished fifth in the 'players' rankings.
Just imagine how high up they may finish the next time when their 'stadium experience' -- the team's lowest ranking at 69 -- is re-evaluated once the Consol Energy Center starts hosting games in just a few months?
The official rankings in each category for all 122 teams can be found here, and the Penguins' overall slot says such great things about the franchise
Everyone in the entire Pens' organization deserves kudos.
More soon.
Something much more 'hometown'.
And something that I don't believe got nearly enough pub when the news first came out.
The Pittsburgh Penguins organization has been ranked #1 in fan relations.
Not just in the NHL.
In ALL of professional sports.
Or, at least, so says ESPN The Magazine.
The study, released about a month ago, evaluated how much each team (122 in all) in the four (4) major professional sports -- NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL -- gave back to their fans in exchange for all the time, money and emotion invested in them.
The Magazine examined several factors for each franchise and ranked them to come up with a final 'Ultimate Ranking' for each team. The factors examined were: the players, bang for the buck, stadium experience, title track, coaching, ownership, affordability, and fan relations.
The 'fan relations' category measured 'openness and consideration towards fans by players, coaches and management' and, as I mentioned, the Penguins finished first in that category, ahead of such legendary sports franchises like the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Green Bay Packers.
Here is a piece trumpeting the Penguins well-deserved ranking in that particular category
And interestingly, the Detroit Red Wings were right behind them in 'fan relations' among all sports franchises.
Better still, in the overall 'Ultimate rankings', the Penguins were the top-rated NHL franchise, and the 5th of all 122 teams evaluated.
Helping place the Pens there were high rankings in several categories other than just its top finish in 'fan-relations'.
For instance, they were third in the 'title track' rankings (thanks Ray) and 'ownership' (thanks Ron and Mario).
The Penguins also finished fifth in the 'players' rankings.
Just imagine how high up they may finish the next time when their 'stadium experience' -- the team's lowest ranking at 69 -- is re-evaluated once the Consol Energy Center starts hosting games in just a few months?
The official rankings in each category for all 122 teams can be found here, and the Penguins' overall slot says such great things about the franchise
Everyone in the entire Pens' organization deserves kudos.
More soon.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The Great Debate And More
Well, the dog days of August -- the slowest month for hockey fans -- are upon us.
It's no wonder I was born this month. There was nothing happening in the hockey world!
Anyway, it's as good a time as any to start with my odds and ends for the month, beginning with this great read from last week on perhaps the best debate going right now:
Whether the Penguins or Washington Capitals are the better squad.
Of course, there's no doubt where I fall on that side of the equation, but clearly I'm not alone.
On a differnt matter, I found it interesting to read Chicago Blackhawks' GM Stan Bowman's comments yesterday about how important it is in the salary cap era to have "flexibility" with his roster -- this, in the aftermath of the news that the 'Hawks were walking away from the 1-year, $2.75 million dollar arbitration award given to their now-former Stanley Cup winning goaltender (making him an unrestricted free agent) and instead signing veteran and former Dallas Stars' netminder Marty Turco on the cheap for 1-year @ $1.3 million.
As my regular readers know, I wrote a piece here about 10 days ago that talked about how Pens' GM Ray Shero has consistently managed the salary cap well -- and differently than his GM colleagues who regularly doll out contracts more than a decade long -- by preaching that "flexibility" in order to be able to do things with his roster.
The irony in Bowman's remarks is that he has given several of those career-long committments to players like forward Marion Hossa and defenseman Duncan Keith, to name a few, in the last few years. Couple that with the personnel mistakes made by his predecessor, Rick Dudley, in signing blueliner Brian Campbell and goaltender Christobal Huet to overpriced contracts, and you have a team that has anything BUT flexibility.
I guess being forced to jettison 8 players from your Stanley Cup winning roster, including two important forwards and your starting goaltender, doesn't figure into that calculus.
Or, maybe Bowman is just figuring it out now?
And so, Chicago will put its netminding hopes in the trust of a 35-year old goalie who, despite his reputation, has a losing playoff record, but has chosen to scrape the bottom of the salary barrel ($1.3 million is low, even for Turco) for a personal chance at success.
I'm just glad the Penguins aren't in that crunch. They've managed to keep their core and continue to ADD key players in free agency, not send them packing.
More soon on the impact that type of management has on, among other things, fan relations.
It's no wonder I was born this month. There was nothing happening in the hockey world!
Anyway, it's as good a time as any to start with my odds and ends for the month, beginning with this great read from last week on perhaps the best debate going right now:
Whether the Penguins or Washington Capitals are the better squad.
Of course, there's no doubt where I fall on that side of the equation, but clearly I'm not alone.
On a differnt matter, I found it interesting to read Chicago Blackhawks' GM Stan Bowman's comments yesterday about how important it is in the salary cap era to have "flexibility" with his roster -- this, in the aftermath of the news that the 'Hawks were walking away from the 1-year, $2.75 million dollar arbitration award given to their now-former Stanley Cup winning goaltender (making him an unrestricted free agent) and instead signing veteran and former Dallas Stars' netminder Marty Turco on the cheap for 1-year @ $1.3 million.
As my regular readers know, I wrote a piece here about 10 days ago that talked about how Pens' GM Ray Shero has consistently managed the salary cap well -- and differently than his GM colleagues who regularly doll out contracts more than a decade long -- by preaching that "flexibility" in order to be able to do things with his roster.
The irony in Bowman's remarks is that he has given several of those career-long committments to players like forward Marion Hossa and defenseman Duncan Keith, to name a few, in the last few years. Couple that with the personnel mistakes made by his predecessor, Rick Dudley, in signing blueliner Brian Campbell and goaltender Christobal Huet to overpriced contracts, and you have a team that has anything BUT flexibility.
I guess being forced to jettison 8 players from your Stanley Cup winning roster, including two important forwards and your starting goaltender, doesn't figure into that calculus.
Or, maybe Bowman is just figuring it out now?
And so, Chicago will put its netminding hopes in the trust of a 35-year old goalie who, despite his reputation, has a losing playoff record, but has chosen to scrape the bottom of the salary barrel ($1.3 million is low, even for Turco) for a personal chance at success.
I'm just glad the Penguins aren't in that crunch. They've managed to keep their core and continue to ADD key players in free agency, not send them packing.
More soon on the impact that type of management has on, among other things, fan relations.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Pens Promote Reirden To Assistant Coach
Over the last 6 weeks or so, the Pittsburgh Penguins interviewed around a dozen candidates for their open assistant coaching position, made vacant when former assistant Mike Yeo left the organization to serve as the head coach of the Houston Aeros American Hockey League outfit.
Several of those candidates were highly respected around the game, including former Penguin assistant and experienced veteran Barry Smith, and up-and-coming coach and former NHL defenseman Mike Ramsey, who just finished a stint as an assistant with the Minnesota Wild.
In the end, despite their interviews and potential candidates, they continued a recent organizational trend by hiring in-house, promoting now-former Wilkes-Barre Scranton Head Coach Todd Reirden to assist HC Dan Bylsma and current assistant Tony Granato behind the Pens' bench this coming season.
Reirden was an assistant under Bylsma when he was the head coach of the Baby Penguins, and ascended to lead the bench there when Blysma was chosen by Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero to replace former Pens' head coach Michel Therrein.
Since that time, Reirden led the Pens' AHL team to a 55-43-5 record, losing in the second round of the post-season the year Bylsma was promoted, and falling in a sweep in this last year's opening round of the playoffs.
Reirden was a former NHL defenseman in the league during a 5-year stretch earlier this decade, playing with the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers and Atlanta Thrashers, primarily. Interestingly, he also briefly played in the Phoenix Coyotes organization, where his segway into coaching began in part by helping tutor now Pens' blueliner Zbynek Michalek.
Not surprisingly then, Reirden is expected to work with the team's defensemen on the big club, which is one thing the team was looking for in hiring its new assistant.
Meanwhile, Bylsma will probably take on the bulk of responsibility in working with the team's power play, something Yeo also did when he was with the club.
Finally, continuing the in-house theme, Shero promoted John Hynes to be the Head Coach at Wilkes-Barre, sliding up from his assistant position there. Hynes will probably just pick up with the team where Reirden left off.
Don't sleep on Hynes, either. He has been a very successful coach working with young players, having led several U.S. National Development program under-17 and under-18 teams to medals before joining the Penguins' organization.
More soon.
Several of those candidates were highly respected around the game, including former Penguin assistant and experienced veteran Barry Smith, and up-and-coming coach and former NHL defenseman Mike Ramsey, who just finished a stint as an assistant with the Minnesota Wild.
In the end, despite their interviews and potential candidates, they continued a recent organizational trend by hiring in-house, promoting now-former Wilkes-Barre Scranton Head Coach Todd Reirden to assist HC Dan Bylsma and current assistant Tony Granato behind the Pens' bench this coming season.
Reirden was an assistant under Bylsma when he was the head coach of the Baby Penguins, and ascended to lead the bench there when Blysma was chosen by Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero to replace former Pens' head coach Michel Therrein.
Since that time, Reirden led the Pens' AHL team to a 55-43-5 record, losing in the second round of the post-season the year Bylsma was promoted, and falling in a sweep in this last year's opening round of the playoffs.
Reirden was a former NHL defenseman in the league during a 5-year stretch earlier this decade, playing with the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers and Atlanta Thrashers, primarily. Interestingly, he also briefly played in the Phoenix Coyotes organization, where his segway into coaching began in part by helping tutor now Pens' blueliner Zbynek Michalek.
Not surprisingly then, Reirden is expected to work with the team's defensemen on the big club, which is one thing the team was looking for in hiring its new assistant.
Meanwhile, Bylsma will probably take on the bulk of responsibility in working with the team's power play, something Yeo also did when he was with the club.
Finally, continuing the in-house theme, Shero promoted John Hynes to be the Head Coach at Wilkes-Barre, sliding up from his assistant position there. Hynes will probably just pick up with the team where Reirden left off.
Don't sleep on Hynes, either. He has been a very successful coach working with young players, having led several U.S. National Development program under-17 and under-18 teams to medals before joining the Penguins' organization.
More soon.
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