Penguins Head Coaching Prospects
It has been recently speculated that the Pittsburgh Penguins are "very close" to hiring a new head coach, but the list of candidates are less than stellar. Granted, they're not going to find a Scotty Bowman or Al Arbor anytime soon, but the best and most popular option out there is the most recent Calder Cup winning coach of the Texas Stars, Willie Desjardins. With his most recent success, he is obviously a wanted commodity, but will his strategies and style of game translate to the NHL level?
Another popular name floating around is former Penguins defenseman and Rangers Assistant Coach, Ulf Samuelsson. Samuelsson will no doubt be a more disciplinarian presence behind the bench than former coach Dan Bylsma, but what can he bring to the table other than a great flare of nostalgia? Certainly defensively, he would be an asset and use players that would play a fast and physical style for the Penguins, such as Simon Despres and Robert Bortuzzo. They would be playing more regularly, I should say. And with the young defensemen still upcoming, his impact on the blueline could be phenomenal, key word being could.
Other names that have been popping up are Mike Keenan, Ron Wilson, Marc Crawford, John Stevens and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head coach, John Hynes.
Personally, I feel that Hynes would be the best suitor for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Yes, the track record of calling up WBS head coaches has not been the greatest in the past years (Michel Therrien and Dan Bylsma), however, Hynes coaches a style that focuses on defense and counterpunching. The Baby Penguins had a potent short-handed offense last season with speedy forwards like Brian Gibbons. Hynes has also had invaluable experience with the youthful Penguins on the backend and the forwards, that if they return, may get more playing time with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
As new General Manager Jim Rutherford surveys his options and finalizes the deal, one thing is for certain; the selection will not please everyone. With the selection of the new head coach coming up and the draft and free agency soon following, it will be interesting to see how the Pittsburgh faithful react to arguably the most important offseason in recent memory for the Penguins.
Another popular name floating around is former Penguins defenseman and Rangers Assistant Coach, Ulf Samuelsson. Samuelsson will no doubt be a more disciplinarian presence behind the bench than former coach Dan Bylsma, but what can he bring to the table other than a great flare of nostalgia? Certainly defensively, he would be an asset and use players that would play a fast and physical style for the Penguins, such as Simon Despres and Robert Bortuzzo. They would be playing more regularly, I should say. And with the young defensemen still upcoming, his impact on the blueline could be phenomenal, key word being could.
Other names that have been popping up are Mike Keenan, Ron Wilson, Marc Crawford, John Stevens and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins head coach, John Hynes.
Personally, I feel that Hynes would be the best suitor for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Yes, the track record of calling up WBS head coaches has not been the greatest in the past years (Michel Therrien and Dan Bylsma), however, Hynes coaches a style that focuses on defense and counterpunching. The Baby Penguins had a potent short-handed offense last season with speedy forwards like Brian Gibbons. Hynes has also had invaluable experience with the youthful Penguins on the backend and the forwards, that if they return, may get more playing time with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
As new General Manager Jim Rutherford surveys his options and finalizes the deal, one thing is for certain; the selection will not please everyone. With the selection of the new head coach coming up and the draft and free agency soon following, it will be interesting to see how the Pittsburgh faithful react to arguably the most important offseason in recent memory for the Penguins.
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