Really damning column today from Dejan:

Kovacevic: Penguins losing marbles, too?.
Published: Sunday, June 9, 2013, 10:00 p.m.
Updated 11 hours ago

As if it weren't enough for the Penguins to lose their offense, lose their power play and lose a dominant chunk of their dignity by losing in four straight to the Bruins, it now would appear they're losing their minds.

Unless, of course, you can concoct a different way to interpret this remark from Dan Bylsma at the team's breakup session Sunday at Consol Energy Center: “Marc-Andre Fleury is our No. 1 goalie. He's the No. 1 goalie for this franchise. And he will be going forward.”

Tape doesn't lie. The man said that.

Wait; it gets better.

“We were in a situation where Tomas Vokoun went in the net and won the third and fourth game of a series for us and continued to play.”

Against the Islanders, you'll recall.

“But you know, Marc-Andre Fleury is a guy who's going to come back to our team, and he's going to be the No. 1 goalie. He's going to be our franchise goalie. He's going to be this franchise's goalie.”

I suppose it's possible Bylsma repeated the point so many times because he couldn't
believe he was saying it, either.

I know I couldn't.

And I really couldn't believe it when Bylsma was asked to expound upon what this declaration meant to Vokoun and came up with this: “Tomas ... um, I don't think is in any different boat than when he came in last year. He's going to play games for us, big games, but ... next year, he's not going to get that opportunity because Marc-Andre Fleury's going to be in net for us winning hockey games.”

Oh, for real.

The coach outright tossed into the trash the goaltender who just (maybe) saved the coach's job and who just (undoubtedly) was his team's playoff MVP by a preposterously wide margin. Bylsma exhibited zero timing, zero awareness of what Vokoun means to his teammates.

As one esteemed gentleman who also was in that media room loves to say, you had to be there to believe it.

I don't care if the entire event was a ploy to prop up Fleury's trade value this offseason. It might well have been that. Fleury's got two years and $10 million left on his deal, and maybe they think they'll get a better return by floating out all these false platitudes — no matter how obvious it is to the hockey world that they abjectly gave up on Fleury in the past two months.

Either way, you don't make that point at the public expense of Vokoun, who just might be that No. 1 goaltender next season.

The whole thing stunk.

It felt a little fishy, too.

Why, if the Penguins' management had this sudden, seismic declaration to make about Fleury, was it crystal clear that nobody told Fleury himself?

When Fleury was asked pointedly if he thought the coaching staff still had confidence in him, his barely audible answer was this: “Ummmm ... I don't know. I haven't really talked with Dan yet. I talked with Gilles. We had a good talk. I don't know. You should ask them about me.”

Gilles Meloche is the goaltending coach.

Fleury spoke mere minutes before Bylsma took the podium in a separate room.
Vokoun, who almost always is available to media, wasn't around at all.
The coach wasn't much better on other issues.

Asked about what didn't work against the Bruins, Bylsma would answer with what did work against the Islanders or Senators.

I asked yet again for Bylsma to explain his glaring misuse of Jarome Iginla by having him lost at left wing and left off the power play, and his long reply was best summed up by: “Where Jarome was used was the best fit for our team.”

Asked about young players Beau Bennett and Simon Despres, Bylsma replied that Bennett will be a “top-six forward” and Despres “a top-four defenseman” next year. You know, right after neither was a top-20 player through most of the playoffs.
Asked why Paul Martin, the Penguins' top skater against Boston, never was used on the top power play: “We really felt like the top power-play unit didn't get out there enough, for various reasons.” Right. He wanted to see more of the 0-for-15 guys.

Questions were cut off after 14 minutes.

I've always liked Bylsma as a coach, and so apparently do his players, judging by their unconditional endorsements Sunday.

“Our coaches are unbelievable,” James Neal said.
“We're as prepared as anyone,” Douglas Murray said.
“We just didn't execute,” Sidney Crosby said.

But right after that, Bylsma's nervous, nonsensical session inspired about as much confidence as what he just showed in a good player and good man who deserved far better. It was an absolute mess and one that might have unearthed much about an even bigger mess behind the scenes.

Oh, there was this, too: Bylsma acknowledged not having spoken yet to Ray Shero about his job status for next season.

Shero's turn to address the media is Wednesday. Could be he'll have plenty to say.

Read more: http://triblive.com/sport...leury-coach#ixzz2Vp9UL7W0

Tough loss. No shame in losing to a better team though. Still, you at least need to see the effort.

With Boston, Chara is probably one of the most underrated players in the league. And well coached, much like the Devils the past 20 years.

Serious changes are on the horizon. Team management can't be happy with beating 7th and 8th seeds. With salary cap restrictions coming, I believe there will be serious discussions about moving Malkin.

What would he be worth? I would focus on the best d-man you could get.

I think he would be a good mix of bylsma and torts.. you need someone to not sit there and be there friends and hold their hands.. you have some of the best players in the world not able to score and play a simple system or beat a simple system..
- nh4442

But you still need some sort of "system" to play. From what I remember of the Melrose turned into Tocchet Lightning, it was basically a free for all (which is why they brought Boucher in).

I think his attitude would be fine for a Pens coach, but that's about it.

Should be interesting tomorrow. Shero tends to be more candid than most GM's in any sport.

Tough loss. No shame in losing to a better team though. Still, you at least need to see the effort.

With Boston, Chara is probably one of the most underrated players in the league. And well coached, much like the Devils the past 20 years.

Serious changes are on the horizon. Team management can't be happy with beating 7th and 8th seeds. With salary cap restrictions coming, I believe there will be serious discussions about moving Malkin.

What would he be worth? I would focus on the best d-man you could get.
- Daman

It's just not happening... Why are Flyers fans the only people who come here and consistently bring this up?

It's just not happening... Why are Flyers fans the only people who come here and consistently bring this up?
- rival22

Much better players than Malkin have been traded. He's just too soft in the playoffs. You can't have that at his salary.

Tough loss. No shame in losing to a better team though. Still, you at least need to see the effort.

With Boston, Chara is probably one of the most underrated players in the league. And well coached, much like the Devils the past 20 years.

Serious changes are on the horizon. Team management can't be happy with beating 7th and 8th seeds. With salary cap restrictions coming, I believe there will be serious discussions about moving Malkin.

What would he be worth? I would focus on the best d-man you could get.
- Daman

There won't be serious discussions about moving Malkin. Those discussions will only take place if he wants crazy money.

"Team management can't be happy with beating 7th and 8th seeds" Master of the obvious...

No matter what happens, you need to move some combination of Bylsma, Fleury and/or Letang.

This team has under achieved, and while players have moved on, no one was moved because of poor performance. This locker room is one big happy family, there has to be a wake up call or a warning shot fired. If they see one of their best buddies (or their beloved coach) moved because they as a team under-performed, than that might get some attention.

Much better players than Malkin have been traded. He's just too soft in the playoffs. You can't have that at his salary.
- Daman

He won a freaking Conn Smyth and was their best forward from about the midway point of the Islanders series on. Too soft int he playoffs... Are you on crack?

That is a serious question....

And better players than Malkin have been traded, but because they had to be financially. Malkin doesn't.

Edit: Since 2008, Malkin has more playoff points per game than EVERYONE except Crosby. More than Toews, Kane, Giroux, Getzlaf, Perry, Briere, Zetterberg, Datsyuk....

Soft? Lol...

Dejan is an antagonizer. He has an agenda.

Pierre LeBrun ‏@Real_ESPNLeBrun
FYI that NHL's 30 GMs will meet during day of Game 4 in Boston

Deadline trade talk will heat up...

Important dates:

June 19th - GM's meet in Boston.
June 27th - Board of Governors meet
June 30th - NHL Draft
July 5th - Free Agency begins

This could be a busy couple of weeks lol.

Pierre LeBrun ‏@Real_ESPNLeBrun
FYI that NHL's 30 GMs will meet during day of Game 4 in Boston

Deadline trade talk will heat up...

Important dates:

June 19th - GM's meet in Boston.
June 27th - Board of Governors meet
June 30th - NHL Draft
July 5th - Free Agency begins

This could be a busy couple of weeks lol.
- rival22

The lockout very much condenses it.

I'm surprised more of us aren't curious as to what happens to fleury in the playoffs. I honestly have no idea and I don't think anybody does. He was great all year and even in that first game and then boom.

Dejan is an antagonizer. He has an agenda.
- Deadstar

Is that my French name? I like that.

-De Jan

He won a freaking Conn Smyth and was their best forward from about the midway point of the Islanders series on. Too soft int he playoffs... Are you on crack?

That is a serious question....

And better players than Malkin have been traded, but because they had to be financially. Malkin doesn't.

Edit: Since 2008, Malkin has more playoff points per game than EVERYONE except Crosby. More than Toews, Kane, Giroux, Getzlaf, Perry, Briere, Zetterberg, Datsyuk....

Soft? Lol...
- rival22

He just wants the Pens to fall into the same trap as the Flyers. Trade your best players and have them move on to greater success elsewhere.

Here's his statement from him on the main blog... "The changes necessary aren't difficult to make, but takes a level of intelligence that few on this board or most likely upper management can understand."

So, Daman thinks he has a higher intelligence than Mario and Ray.

I'm surprised more of us aren't curious as to what happens to fleury in the playoffs. I honestly have no idea and I don't think anybody does. He was great all year and even in that first game and then boom.
- Genev21

It is bizarre... If he didn't play so well in the '08 & '09 playoffs, you could just chalk it up to him being a guy who can't play under pressure.

If he does come back next year, in addition to a new goalie coach, the Pens really have to bring in a sports psychologist or something. He could have another great regular season, but his confidence level will still be negative going into the playoffs.

He won a freaking Conn Smyth and was their best forward from about the midway point of the Islanders series on. Too soft int he playoffs... Are you on crack?

That is a serious question....

And better players than Malkin have been traded, but because they had to be financially. Malkin doesn't.

Edit: Since 2008, Malkin has more playoff points per game than EVERYONE except Crosby. More than Toews, Kane, Giroux, Getzlaf, Perry, Briere, Zetterberg, Datsyuk....

Soft? Lol...
- rival22

It just takes one physical team to throw him off his game. I say he is soft and you talk about points. I don't think you are gettng the point.

There is a lack of discipline and a lack of team defense here. It needs to be fixed.

You can't claim to have all the best players in the world and then get B-slapped. (B=Bruins). I would personally bet the Malkin is gone within the next 2-3 years.

It just takes one physical team to throw him off his game. I say he is soft and you talk about points. I don't think you are gettng the point.

There is a lack of discipline and a lack of team defense here. It needs to be fixed.

You can't claim to have all the best players in the world and then get B-slapped. (B=Bruins). I would personally bet the Malkin is gone within the next 2-3 years.
- Daman

How much are you willing to bet? Exile from yet another thread?

How much are you willing to bet? Exile from yet another thread?
- BulliesPhan87

$$$.

He just wants the Pens to fall into the same trap as the Flyers. Trade your best players and have them move on to greater success elsewhere.

Here's his statement from him on the main blog... "The changes necessary aren't difficult to make, but takes a level of intelligence that few on this board or most likely upper management can understand."

So, Daman thinks he has a higher intelligence than Mario and Ray.
- madmike71

On this thread, please refer to me by my newly annointed title - De Jan.

If Ray, Mario and De Jan were to take any type of test that measured intelligence, well, only a fool would bet on the front office guys. Unfortunately, I know where many of you would bet, which would lead me to my next natural conclusion....

$$$.
- Daman

Count me out, I'm no cash gambler. I only deal in forum access capital.

Speaking of, condolences to canadianpenfan for losing out on my avatar privileges. Maybe next year.

On this thread, please refer to me by my newly annointed title - De Jan.

If Ray, Mario and De Jan were to take any type of test that measured intelligence, well, only a fool would bet on the front office guys. Unfortunately, I know where many of you would bet, which would lead me to my next natural conclusion....
- Daman

No one cares about you. Dejan Kovacevic is a Pittsburgh columnist. Again, no one cares about you.

Your blogger off himself cause the Pens got swept or what ?

No one cares about you. Dejan Kovacevic is a Pittsburgh columnist. Again, no one cares about you.
- Deadstar

Well I care about you. As always, I send a message of truth and love.

Perhaps you can tell me when this Kovalchuk guy adopted my nickname.

Blysma basically blowing off Vokoun in his comments yesterday is bizarre.

Shero knew Vokoun from his Nashville days... Shero went out and traded for Tomas Vokoun, and signed him to a two year deal. Vokoun basically got them out of the first round and played well the rest of the way.

Shero has proven not to make team decisions based on personal feelings, but that can't sit well with him, can it?

Maybe Bylsma was just pumping Fleury's tires for either a trade or for him to rebound next season, but it was odd how he basically dismissed Vokoun, especially since if Bylsma is back next season, Vokoun likely saved his job by getting the Pens out of the first round.