http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=26586
- dadeadhead

With the roster he's been working with down there that possibly could be considered "God like" coaching. Too bad Babcock already owns the title.

It's not a coincidence that when Bylsma took over, and implemented his own system, they steadily became easier to beat come post-season.

I won't be too upset if he is hired, I just think he will be an average coach. Who knows, maybe average will be good enough with our roster in 2-3 years

His system was pretty wide open and he had a lot of skill players. How is that not a fit for those type of players? I'm for coaches you want to play wide open and make this sport more entertaining.
- Homer

Because he had guys like Crosby and Malkin playing along the boards chipping pucks deep instead of being allowed to drive possession into the zone on their own.

I never really paid that much attention to them to realize it, but I have read it a few times now.

I love how Pittsburgh's playoff failures are all on Bylsma, and not his lazy ass underachieving players. Especially last year against Columbus, a series I actually watched, Pittsburgh looked lazy, uninterested and played like the series was theirs from the start. I believe that is called having a sense of entitlement.

This year, they struggled all season, limped into the playoffs and got their asses handed to them. But of course, I'm going to hear about all the injuries they had. Give me a break with that poop, anyone who makes that excuse, to be quite frank, sounds like a Buffalo fan. Oh it was the injuries, not our entitled cry-baby star players.

Not that I even want Bylsma, but get real.

And I also don't want to hear about his Olympic team. USA regularly plays like poope in that tournament and hasn't won gold in almost 40 years. I'd like to point out the scrubs and children he had playing for him in the IIHF tournament this year and the bronze medal they earned when no one expected them to even play in a medal game.

Again, not that I even like the guy as a coach but I love the Pittsburgh fans and writers who all are so quick to point out his failures and say he "inherited" a cup-worthy team. Yeah, just like Lindy Ruff did from Teddy Nolan?

I don't hate the guy. I hated his coaching. Fleury had confidence issues because the team in front of him failed to play competent defense. Nothing more simple than that.

Hey don't take my word for it, read your own blogger. The guy you should be after is our AHL coach. -madmike71

"failed to play competent defense" You're right, pretty hard to play tough defensive hockey when your roster isn't build tough. I don't see Crosby, Malkin or Letang laying down or sacrificing the body for defense. Since Orpik left, who's the "tough as nails" role player?

"The guy you should be after is our AHL coach"

I love how Pittsburgh's playoff failures are all on Bylsma, and not his lazy ass underachieving players. Especially last year against Columbus, a series I actually watched, Pittsburgh looked lazy, uninterested and played like the series was theirs from the start. I believe that is called having a sense of entitlement.

This year, they struggled all season, limped into the playoffs and got their asses handed to them. But of course, I'm going to hear about all the injuries they had. Give me a break with that poop, anyone who makes that excuse, to be quite frank, sounds like a Buffalo fan. Oh it was the injuries, not our entitled cry-baby star players.

Not that I even want Bylsma, but get real.

And I also don't want to hear about his Olympic team. USA regularly plays like poope in that tournament and hasn't won gold in almost 40 years. I'd like to point out the scrubs and children he had playing for him in the IIHF tournament this year and the bronze medal they earned when no one expected them to even play in a medal game.

Again, not that I even like the guy as a coach but I love the Pittsburgh fans and writers who all are so quick to point out his failures and say he "inherited" a cup-worthy team. Yeah, just like Lindy Ruff did from Teddy Nolan?


- DynamicThreads

Well the Pens went to the finals the year before Dan was hired. So yeah, they were pretty damn close.

I love how Pittsburgh's playoff failures are all on Bylsma, and not his lazy ass underachieving players. Especially last year against Columbus, a series I actually watched, Pittsburgh looked lazy, uninterested and played like the series was theirs from the start. I believe that is called having a sense of entitlement.

This year, they struggled all season, limped into the playoffs and got their asses handed to them. But of course, I'm going to hear about all the injuries they had. Give me a break with that poop, anyone who makes that excuse, to be quite frank, sounds like a Buffalo fan. Oh it was the injuries, not our entitled cry-baby star players.

Not that I even want Bylsma, but get real.

And I also don't want to hear about his Olympic team. USA regularly plays like poope in that tournament and hasn't won gold in almost 40 years. I'd like to point out the scrubs and children he had playing for him in the IIHF tournament this year and the bronze medal they earned when no one expected them to even play in a medal game.

Again, not that I even like the guy as a coach but I love the Pittsburgh fans and writers who all are so quick to point out his failures and say he "inherited" a cup-worthy team. Yeah, just like Lindy Ruff did from Teddy Nolan?


- DynamicThreads

No they didn't. They were one of the best teams in the league most of the year

It's not a coincidence that when Bylsma took over, and implemented his own system, they steadily became easier to beat come post-season.

I won't be too upset if he is hired, I just think he will be an average coach. Who knows, maybe average will be good enough with our roster in 2-3 years
- sbroads24

Or is it beause his goal tender at times couldnt stop a beach ball.

For all the praise Babcock gets, nor he or Bylsma have had a team past the conference finals since 2010. Each have had disappointing teams in the playoffs.

Because he had guys like Crosby and Malkin playing along the boards chipping pucks deep instead of being allowed to drive possession into the zone on their own.

I never really paid that much attention to them to realize it, but I have read it a few times now.
- sbroads24

Really? He's been criticized for being too wide open. Having your stars chip the puck in isn't exactly wide open.

It's not a coincidence that when Bylsma took over, and implemented his own system, they steadily became easier to beat come post-season.

I won't be too upset if he is hired, I just think he will be an average coach. Who knows, maybe average will be good enough with our roster in 2-3 years
- sbroads24

Post season failures = MAF, not his system.

Really? He's been criticized for being too wide open. Having your stars chip the puck in isn't exactly wide open.
- Homer

Well, quite a few people have criticized him for that

Because he had guys like Crosby and Malkin playing along the boards chipping pucks deep instead of being allowed to drive possession into the zone on their own.

I never really paid that much attention to them to realize it, but I have read it a few times now.
- sbroads24

I don't know, man. I know he used Crosby and Malkin to carry the puck into the zone, they usually did NOT dump themselves. Bottom lines, though, he would usually dumb and chase.

Don't know what games you've watched.

Post season failures = MAF, not his system.
- Homer

Really? Every single playoff defeat is Fleury's fault?


How about that series against boston where they scored something like 4 goals total?

Post season failures = MAF, not his system.
- Homer

Come on man. Blaming it all on Fluery is way too easy

They scored 3 total goals in 4 games against Boston in the ECF 2 years ago, and had the same issue last year against the Rangers. They couldn't score, and were easily defended

Bylsma also refused to move Iginla to his natural RW position and he was useless for them

Adam Gretz is a terrific writer. His work is among the best in the business. He is based in Pittsburgh but covers the entire league. Very worthwhile follow on twitter. @AGretz
- Ryan_Wilson

If he is a sharp hockey mind from Pittsburgh, and Im sure he is, then why did he say on WGR today how good a coach and what a good job he did when in Pittsburgh and everybody on here wants to tell me he isn't a very good coach. Does everybody know more than this Gretz guy? Seems like it.

Post season failures = MAF, not his system.
- Homer

MAF got replaced in the first round (which we won) three years ago. Vokoun (playing out of his mind) got us to the ECF. Two years ago, MAF played very well. Played very well again this year.

Fact is, tending hasn't been a problem for 3 years.

Cut and dry, your team's star players need to be star players. Last year, Crosby had 1 goal in 13 games. This year he only produced 2 goals in 5 games. Malkin didn't produce a damn thing.

MUST BE THE COACHING, THOUGH. ALL THE COACHES FAULT.

Really? Every single playoff defeat is Fleury's fault?


How about that series against boston where they scored something like 4 goals total?
- Sabresfan-365

Last two seasons MAF Sv % in the playoffs

.915
.927

Come on man. Blaming it all on Fluery is way too easy

They scored 3 total goals in 4 games against Boston in the ECF 2 years ago, and had the same issue last year against the Rangers. They couldn't score, and were easily defended

Bylsma also refused to move Iginla to his natural RW position and he was useless for them
- sbroads24

Losing in the ECF to a very good Rangers team isn't exactly a reason to bury your head in the sand.

Last two seasons MAF Sv % in the playoffs

.915
.927
- sbroads24

And the two before that?

Cut and dry, your team's star players need to be star players. Last year, Crosby had 1 goal in 13 games. This year he only produced 2 goals in 5 games. Malkin didn't produce a damn thing.

MUST BE THE COACHING, THOUGH. ALL THE COACHES FAULT.
- awildmudkip

Amen

I think the biggest concern for me is his love of the less skilled veteran players. I've seen enough of guys like Matt Ellis over the past few years. I'd rather not see them get ice time over guys like Eichel, Reinhart, Risto, Pysyk, etc.

Last two seasons MAF Sv % in the playoffs

.915
.927
- sbroads24

Howard's SV% last year was .931 and they were out round 1. What's your point?

No they didn't. They were one of the best teams in the league most of the year
- sbroads24

Aside from one 7 game win streak at the start of the season, I fail to see how they didn't. They had several 4 game losing streaks and the second lowest points total of all the playoff teams.

Injuries are a part of the game and 87 was healthy most of the year. They barely made the playoffs. I'd call that struggling for a team with 2 of the top 5 centers in the league.

Howard's SV% last year was .931 and they were out round 1. What's your point?
- awildmudkip

That blaming MAF is not accurate for the Pens issues over the previous 2 seasons