Shero Out as Pens GM; More Change to Come
The news broke earlier today that General Manager Ray Shero had been relieved of his duties from the Pittsburgh Penguins. What the shocking part of that announcement is is that head coach Dan Bylsma and the rest of the coaching staff is still intact.
Pens fans have to be wondering why, myself included. The trend lately when a GM is fired is that the head coach, and even assistant coaches are all fired as well. This announcement seems odd to me. Penguins fans have been waiting for a shakeup for a while, but only one change? One change?!
Could this just be a sick joke, like the last several seasons have been for the Penguins? Is upper management lulling us to sleep with just one move and making Bylsma and company squirm, just waiting for the news? It would be fitting letting them feel what we fans have felt watching the playoffs the last five years. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate and respect what Ray Shero and Dan Bylsma have done in their years with Pittsburgh, but their time has come.
Now, granted, once free agency rolls around, several players will be leaving the squad as well, most notably and predictably, veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik. Will other players be leaving via trade or buyouts? Only the new GM will know. That leads to the next point.
Who could become the next Penguins general manager, a job which will come with intense pressure to succeed immediately, aka, building a dynasty by November. I personally would love to have Brian Burke, but the chances of that are relatively slim. George McPhee is out there, but look at his track record with the Capitals...no thanks.
The next several months will be incredibly interesting to follow for Penguins fans, a summer full of drama and shakeups, something the city and team hasn't seen for quite some time. I myself can't wait to see what happens.
Pens fans have to be wondering why, myself included. The trend lately when a GM is fired is that the head coach, and even assistant coaches are all fired as well. This announcement seems odd to me. Penguins fans have been waiting for a shakeup for a while, but only one change? One change?!
Could this just be a sick joke, like the last several seasons have been for the Penguins? Is upper management lulling us to sleep with just one move and making Bylsma and company squirm, just waiting for the news? It would be fitting letting them feel what we fans have felt watching the playoffs the last five years. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate and respect what Ray Shero and Dan Bylsma have done in their years with Pittsburgh, but their time has come.
Now, granted, once free agency rolls around, several players will be leaving the squad as well, most notably and predictably, veteran defenseman Brooks Orpik. Will other players be leaving via trade or buyouts? Only the new GM will know. That leads to the next point.
Who could become the next Penguins general manager, a job which will come with intense pressure to succeed immediately, aka, building a dynasty by November. I personally would love to have Brian Burke, but the chances of that are relatively slim. George McPhee is out there, but look at his track record with the Capitals...no thanks.
The next several months will be incredibly interesting to follow for Penguins fans, a summer full of drama and shakeups, something the city and team hasn't seen for quite some time. I myself can't wait to see what happens.
