http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Two thoughts struck me in the wake of Penguins coach Dan Bylsma signing a three-year contract extension Wednesday.
First, how fortunate this town is to have three of the brightest young coaches in sports. Mike Tomlin (Steelers), Jamie Dixon (Pitt basketball) and Bylsma — average age: 41 — have combined to win more than 73 percent of their regular-season games.
Think about that.
Then think about, say, the Cleveland Browns, who've torn through five coaches this decade (Pat Shurmur is No. 6) while averaging five wins per season. Or the New York Islanders, who've had nine coaches in 10 years without winning a playoff series.
Second thought: Does Bylsma's body of work, over his two-plus years, beat that of any coach in Penguins history?
Scotty Bowman obviously is the greatest coach ever to work for the Penguins. His nine Stanley Cups attest to that. But he was only behind the bench for two seasons here. He also inherited a Stanley Cup-winning team — nothing like the dispirited, flailing group that greeted Bylsma two years ago.
"Badger" Bob Johnson had a magical, memorable one-year run before he tragically passed away. Herb Brooks was a giant of the game, but his stint behind the Penguins' bench was a mere 58 games.
Bylsma's debut was so historically stunning — an 18-3-4 run to save a season, followed by a championship — that it left everyone wondering what he could do for an encore. They were still wondering after last year's playoff collapse.
Now, they're wondering how the Penguins remain in contention for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Bylsma has not had his full roster for a single game.
"A lot of people say anybody can coach the Penguins; they have (Sidney) Crosby and (Evgeni) Malkin," general manager Ray Shero said yesterday. "Well, now we don't have Crosby and Malkin."
It's not like the Penguins have been lighting it up without those two, but they are surviving quite nicely. They just took five of a possible six points from the Devils, Bruins and Sabres and have clung tightly to Bylsma's aggressive system despite massive personnel losses.
Not that the past three games prompted Shero to offer the extension. He approached Bylsma with the idea in October, when the team was hovering around .500, playing without Jordan Staal and wondering when Marc-Andre Fleury would come around.
"I believed we had a pretty good team, but I was certain we had a really good coach," Shero said. "I said to Dan, 'Listen, you're my coach. Don't worry. We're going to get through this.' "
Bylsma was not afraid to use tough love with Fleury, often using backup Brent Johnson during Fleury's early struggles. Then came a game in Phoenix, when Bylsma gave Fleury a surprise start only to pull him after two quick goals.
That drew criticism in this space and elsewhere. It was a bold move, one that could have gone either way. Fleury responded favorably and has been as good as any goalie in the league since then.
"I know it wasn't an easy time for him," Bylsma said yesterday. "I can look at my notes and remember a few moments we'd all probably like to forget. But he came out of it. He's a quality person who cares about his teammates and cares about winning."
No Penguins coach has started and completed four consecutive seasons. I'm betting Bylsma becomes the first. He's firm in his ways, but his easygoing personality would not appear to lend itself to burnout or to players chafing under his watch.
In the meantime, it's looking like this club will begin the postseason without Crosby. As Bylsma put it, "Time is obviously not on Sid's side."
That leaves the odds stacked against the Penguins mounting a deep playoff run. But there is something about this team. You have to appreciate their passion and that giant chip on their shoulder pads.
Suddenly, they're an underdog.
"Our guys are relishing in that," Bylsma said, "and we think we're a good hockey team."
It is a good team, with a really good coach.
Photo: Getty Images
Read more: Starkey: Bylsma extension richly deserved - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/s_726668.html#ixzz1GCPdjeNx
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