Pittsburgh Penguins 2014-15 Offseason/Season Thread
 

Well... another #1 preseason ranking and another major disappointment. The absolute first thing we need to do is GET RID OF BYLSMA. He has no control over his players and his coaching technique is absolutely terrible. Every time we have a lead, we go into DB shell mode and give up the lead and lose or nearly lose the game. Never benches his star players when they mess up. I'm just sick of him.

Again, this thread will be like the previous one, the thread to go to whenever anything Penguins related comes up. I look forward to your opinions on this years team and look forward to the draft/next years team.

Also say bye bye to Orpik, Niskanen and Jokinen as well as they are all UFA.

I would like to say bye bye to Fleury as well. I know he was pretty good in the playoffs, but I just don't have any trust in him when the game is on the line. I would take Henrik over Fleury in a heart beat.

But, I'm sure we'll lock up Flower for another 5 years.

[QUOTE=SeanieTheMan;7256267] The absolute first thing we need to do is GET RID OF BYLSMA. [/QUOTE]

yep. and maybe a new GM. this team needs a complete overhaul. Lemieux needs to rebuild this organization.


[QUOTE=solt0131;7256301]Also say bye bye to Orpik, Niskanen and Jokinen as well as they are all UFA.[/QUOTE]

hate to lose Niskanen and Jokinen. would like to see them keep Gibbons around too.

Shero is a genius we need execution from those below him. We need motivation, someone who makes our players use talent instead of thinking just cause they have it they will win. Flower is who I want in net. There is no one available who is better. He won once he can win again. Id like to see nisky, Jussi and stemp back. Cut Orpik loose he is always hurt when we need him. Bennett as much as I like his upside reminds me of Erik Christansen. He can be an asset but also doesnt use his skills right. Maybe a package of a young Dman and young forward and a pick to move up in the draft. I hear Edmonton wants to move the 3 pick.

I like the core but we need those gritty players who complimented them in 09 Hal Gill Billy G, Max.....

I would also like to get at LEAST one enforcer/tough/dirty player on the team. We let other teams push us around and ever since Cooke left the team, we really haven't had a tough guy. I would like to pick up one. Apparently, there is some in the minors though?

[QUOTE=SeanieTheMan;7257803]I would also like to get at LEAST one enforcer/tough/dirty player on the team. We let other teams push us around and ever since Cooke left the team, we really haven't had a tough guy. I would like to pick up one. Apparently, there is some in the minors though?[/QUOTE]

Pierre-Luc Letourneau Leblond... aka PL3. i thought for sure they'd call him up at some point this past season to play the role.

[youtube]ICwh7eBsGDw&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

This thread may get to 20 pages before next season even starts.

They will keep Fleury, I have no doubt about that. Jussi will go, Niskanen will get paid more than he deserves by someone else, and Orpik will veteran anchor some other younger defense.

Dan is toast. It makes me laugh out loud to think how quick he will be gone.

Shero may be toast as well.

We need a winger so badly...

This is interesting - from Rob Rossi in the Trib:

"Ownership is not satisfied with the direction of the franchise and feels Shero specifically tethered himself to Bylsma, who he signed to a two-year extension after the Penguins were swept from the Eastern Conference final last June, the sources said.

That is why the term of Bylsma's deal was made to run concurrent with the final years remaining on Shero's contract, the sources said. If Bylsma were deemed necessary to replace, Shero would be held accountable, the sources said.

Ownership favored firing Bylsma as of Wednesday, the sources said.

Ownership believed Bylsma lost the dressing room this season, specifically the support of franchise centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the sources said.

[B]Players were unhappy with Bylsma's numerous meetings and long practices and the decreasing sense of fun within the Penguins' daily environment[/B], the sources said.

[B]Crosby and Malkin also grew disenchanted with perceived harsh criticism they received from Bylsma during meetings[/B], the sources said.

Also, the sources said, ownership was concerned about the Crosby's body language during the playoffs."

If this is all true, then heaven help this franchise. No coach will be able to fix it. Just like in Lemieux's days, the inmates are running the asylum. Unhappy with "the decreasing sense of fun"??? What is that, an f'ing day care center??? Unhappy with the "perceived harsh criticism they received from Bylsma"??? Are you serious??? THESE ARE PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES!!! NO ONE likes to be criticized, but EVERYONE needs it occasionally!!!

from a very good source Orpik tore his ACL and is done for a while regardless he wont be back .....Jussi unless he gets a stupid offer elsewhere will be back .....Sutter is gone,Nisky is gone

no reason, other than his drain on the salary cap, to get rid of Fleury. even with the mistakes he played well enough this post season. though they do need a solid #2 who can step up and be the #1 if needed.

Bylsma and Shero should both be gone soon.

whether it's because Bylsma sucked all the fun out of the game or criticized them too much... though neither of those things seem like a realistic reason. once it's not working, it's just not working.

from an article by Dejan Kovacevic in the Trib:

"There's no intelligent reason the Penguins — the front office, the coaching staff and, yes, Crosby's teammates — should have allowed him to take a fraction of the abuse he did. It was disgraceful..... Blame Shero, mostly.

What happened to this GM's appreciation for tough, even dirty players, filling out his third and fourth lines?"

No Cooke, no Talbot, no Kennedy, etc. They need some of that back. Otherwise, every team in the NHL knows the formula to beating the Pens at this point.

the only good thing about yesterday's disaster is changes are, hopefully, coming to make them better.

I agree the only thing good about this destruction is it'll force much needed changes. I think fleury proved he can stay our #1 goalie. I see tr pens keeping Jonly 1 of the 2 between sutter and jokinen. Niskenen will be back. Orpik and Scuderi will be gone. we need guys like Cooke and Kennedy. I though gibbons played great keep him around. In my opinion we are top heavy, too much high skill. I hate to say it but Neal needs to go. As far as a head coach, I thought maybe tortarella he brings the fire that locker room needs, except if crosby and makin are crying about critisism then that wouldn't work out.

Oh God, anybody but Torts. If the players are getting their feelings hurt by getting criticized, Torts is the LAST coach you need then.

[QUOTE=SeanieTheMan;7261764]Oh God, anybody but Torts. If the players are getting their feelings hurt by getting criticized, Torts is the LAST coach you need then.[/QUOTE]

Haha yeah I agree but if they weren't complaining about that he's got that fire the locker room really needs. And he ain't afraid to bench a player for playing awful like bylsma should have done

[QUOTE=a1breakz;7261780]Haha yeah I agree but if they weren't complaining about that he's got that fire the locker room really needs. And he ain't afraid to bench a player for playing awful like bylsma should have done[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I do like his passion and energy. Although, it's probably not a good sign he's had a few meetings with the NHL top guys already...

Word on the street is that the Pens have inquired to Detroit about Mike Babcock. He has only one year left on his contract. Interesting.

[QUOTE=solt0131;7265372]Word on the street is that the Pens have inquired to Detroit about Mike Babcock. He has only one year left on his contract. Interesting.[/QUOTE]

This could be epic, but it's way too early for me to even dream about.

Now as far as Torts goes, he openly has said he does not like (putting it mildly) a great number of Penguins players both stars and role players. Can we all just agree that all attitude aside, he would poison the locker room? I'm thinking one season here and he will have our team broken, seeking trades, and we will be a sunken ship.

Boy I hate that guy.

Torts sucks.

Bylsma and Shero have both been fired today. Press conference today.

So the coaching staff still has a job (for now) but Shero has been fired.

seems like the right move. it was more important for Shero to go.

What a joke, I always wished the Rangers had Shero, this guy makes awesome trades. And his pucks are always late and are still good.

[QUOTE=solt0131;7272754]Bylsma and Shero have both been fired today. Press conference today.[/QUOTE]

I've only seen an announcement for Shero being fired, where did you see Bylsma getting fired?

[QUOTE=ejs23;7273515]seems like the right move. it was more important for Shero to go.[/QUOTE]

Really? I guess I just don't understand how it is the GM's responsibility to motivate the superstars. What has Bylsma done besides continuously lose in the playoffs? Shero frequently seemed to pull off trades that no one would think possible that absolutely should have improved the team. This team with the massive amount of FA's they have this season has their work cut out for them, and quite frankly firing the guy who has the ability to make it work seems short sighted at best. Guess his big splash of resigning Bylsma for 2 years got him fired.