John Toperzer: To Bylsma or not to Bylsma, that is the poll question Pens coach under fire after another surprising playoff exit

Good luck John! You've done a solid job covering the Pens.

No.

What do we make of Sidney Crosby’s failure to record a point in the conference finals against Boston? Based on what happens in the Stanley Cup, there could be legitimate arguments that someone else -– Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews -- is the supposed best player in the NHL.
- the-mitch-wilsons

Really? The player who even Flyers fans admit is the best player in the game would have that removed because of a horrible performance by his team in a playoff series? Also, if anyone, it would be Toews, and that has nothing to do with what he does in the SCF, and everything to do with his career to date.

I think he has done a Good job overall. If this collection of talent was together longer the last series would have gone 7 games and could've gone either way.

The author states that Crosby may have been a bit "shy" when his facial protection was removed. A poster yesterday said that Crosby is physical and there are no issues there. I am having trouble reconciling the two.

Yesterday, another poster called me an idiot because I suggested it may be time to trade Malkin. Since the author would at least consider such a scenario, is the author guilty of the same label that I have been accused?

I am also struggling with some of the opinions on here questioning signing Letang for $6m per year. If the Pens are in "win now at all costs" mode, I don't see how you let Letang go.

Great day to all.

Cheers!

Really? The player who even Flyers fans admit is the best player in the game would have that removed because of a horrible performance by his team in a playoff series? Also, if anyone, it would be Toews, and that has nothing to do with what he does in the SCF, and everything to do with his career to date.
- jmatchett383

No troll but the Flyers coach referred to one of his players as the best in the world off one playoff series.

Really? The player who even Flyers fans admit is the best player in the game would have that removed because of a horrible performance by his team in a playoff series? Also, if anyone, it would be Toews, and that has nothing to do with what he does in the SCF, and everything to do with his career to date.
- jmatchett383

Not all Flyers fans and certainly not Da Man.

Many sophisticated hockey experts are having to reconsider Crosby as the top player. It is amazing that the Gretzky phrase of "skating to where the puck is going" is lost on so many hockey fans. Irony.

Cheers!

Thanks for all the blogs John, good luck.

The author states that Crosby may have been a bit "shy" when his facial protection was removed. A poster yesterday said that Crosby is physical and there are no issues there. I am having trouble reconciling the two.

Yesterday, another poster called me an idiot because I suggested it may be time to trade Malkin. Since the author would at least consider such a scenario, is the author guilty of the same label that I have been accused?

I am also struggling with some of the opinions on here questioning signing Letang for $6m per year. If the Pens are in "win now at all costs" mode, I don't see how you let Letang go.

Great day to all.

Cheers!
- Daman

Jeez, don't be so sensitive. Not many posters here have the same opinion, it is common to get different viewpoints from fans of the same team. Sounds like you're taking this all a little too serious.

John, thanks for all the memories. Nothing wrong with leaving at the "Top" of your game.

All the best.

Cheers!

A nice read, my first thought when finding out Crosby would no longer need his mouth gear was if his game would get better or worse. I was thinking worse and here we are out of the playoffs

Good luck John! You've done a solid job covering the Pens.
- BOSS_TWEED

Thanks for reading!

Thanks for all the blogs John, good luck.
- canadianpenfan

Thanks for being there all the time and doing such a great job moderating the sometimes unmoderate-able, haha

John, thanks for all the memories. Nothing wrong with leaving at the "Top" of your game.

All the best.

Cheers!
- Daman

Cheers to you, too!

He is a great coach. You would foolish to fire him

Thanks for the blog JT! Good Luck, is anyone taking over?

My thoughts on Crosby are eating liquid food going into the playoffs and losing weight probaly did him 0 favours. By the ECF his health was probaly in question.

I think its unfair to call out Kunitz, Dupuis didnt do much either during the finals. Nobody did.

I agree with listening to offers on Malkin. You never know what someone might offer, or what Malkins intentions are. THe KHL is always a threat to Russian players.

Really? The player who even Flyers fans admit is the best player in the game would have that removed because of a horrible performance by his team in a playoff series? Also, if anyone, it would be Toews, and that has nothing to do with what he does in the SCF, and everything to do with his career to date.
- jmatchett383

Crosby was horrible in the playoffs last season too.
good luck John

I can't believe it's 60/40 to fire him. I think Pittsburgh fans are a bit spoiled here.

Sure you didn't win the cup, but you made it to the ECF and ran into a super hot team.

If you want to blame anyone, blame the GM for going into the playoffs with a garbage starter, and an old man for your backup. Blame your GM for not addressing needs on defense and thinking cement legs Murray was the answer.

Now I don't think the GM should be fired either.. I'm just saying he should shoulder more of the blame than the coach.

Thanks for all your writing John. Good work, and it usually gave us a good starting point for the comments.

Should Bylsma be fired? I would say yes at this point.

Will he? No... I will be VERY surprised if he was. I do expect some staff changes though.

One of the critiques we have about Bylsma is that he won't give young players the chance to play and develop. This coming season, that decision might be taken out of his hands. With the cap being where it is, and a lot of contracts up, he might not have a choice but to play some younger guys.

I can't believe it's 60/40 to fire him. I think Pittsburgh fans are a bit spoiled here.

Sure you didn't win the cup, but you made it to the ECF and ran into a super hot team.

If you want to blame anyone, blame the GM for going into the playoffs with a garbage starter, and an old man for your backup. Blame your GM for not addressing needs on defense and thinking cement legs Murray was the answer.

Now I don't think the GM should be fired either.. I'm just saying he should shoulder more of the blame than the coach.
- Charliebox

Vokoun played fine. Shero has a great "core" in place and brought in 3 quality pieces. Not his fault the core decided to stop playing and Bylsma did not integrate those 3 quality pieces right.

I can't believe it's 60/40 to fire him. I think Pittsburgh fans are a bit spoiled here.

Sure you didn't win the cup, but you made it to the ECF and ran into a super hot team.

If you want to blame anyone, blame the GM for going into the playoffs with a garbage starter, and an old man for your backup. Blame your GM for not addressing needs on defense and thinking cement legs Murray was the answer.

Now I don't think the GM should be fired either.. I'm just saying he should shoulder more of the blame than the coach.
- Charliebox

Neither of these things were the downfall of the Penguins though. The goaltending was fine, and after the midddle of the Islanders series, so was the defense.

You Pens fans are losing a good, knowledgable blogger.

Good luck, John.

(I'm still stuck with Garth )

You Pens fans are losing a good, knowledgable blogger.

Good luck, John.

(I'm still stuck with Garth )
- Powerslave

I think Garth should just blog for every team. Could you imagine trying to find the blog you posted in an hour earlier when all the pictures and titles would be different? It would drive traffic because nobody would know where to go so they would just click.

John was a great blogger, sorry to see him go.

Thanks for all your writing John. Good work, and it usually gave us a good starting point for the comments.

Should Bylsma be fired? I would say yes at this point.
Will he? No... I will be VERY surprised if he was. I do expect some staff changes though.

One of the critiques we have about Bylsma is that he won't give young players the chance to play and develop. This coming season, that decision might be taken out of his hands. With the cap being where it is, and a lot of contracts up, he might not have a choice but to play some younger guys.
- rival22

There will be alot of unhappy folks when this doesn't happen.