Not a Pens fan so I probably wouldn't have heard the rumors but this seems beyond wacky even for internet standards. How could you fire a coach of the 2nd seeded team weeks before the playoffs? Unless he bangs the owner's wife on live TV behind the bench, I can see very few scenarios where he gets canned prior to the playoffs. Besides it's likely they make the conference finals. And then it just takes a some luck before he becomes "unfireable." At least for a few more seasons.
What's the deal with Pens fans and Bylsma? No sarcastic, just asking. It seems they've been tired of him ever since their cup win.
Because he's failed historically, the team is exhibiting the same problems and Bylsma hasn't learned from his many failures, he's still doing his standard 'we have to get back to our game' shit and does nothing.
The NHL is unlike any sport. The Devils were in 1st place in 2000 with 8 games left, lost 10 of 16 and fired their coach. And they won the Stanley Cup. The Devils did it again in 2007. The Penguins fired Therien the year after he went to the Stanley Cup (granted, they weren't in the playoffs at the time) and hired Bylsma. They won the Stanley Cup.
The Penguins have no discipline and he makes no in game adjustments. County Club atmosphere. He needs to install an offense that isn't easily countered. He makes no in game changes. Doesn't know how to match lines. He just benched Jokinen earlier in the week for taking a bad penalty because he 'wasn't a star', where his line then blew the game with him out. They've been embarrassed the last four years in the playoffs. Swept by the Bruins and it wasn't just a sweep, it was bad. Got the rape hammer dropped on them by a very 'meh' Flyers team that seemed to score 8 goals a game. Lost in 7 to an 8 seed Habs team. Look at the mismanagement of Iginla. He's been a 1st ballot HOF RW for 18 years and Byslma puts him as a LW. I believe he has near 30 goals for the Bruins this year. Bylsma was ripped by USA players at the Olympics. He fucked that up too.
And no chance the Penguins are 'likely' to make it to the conference finals. If the Penguins get past the Capitals/Red Wings/Jackets, they'll lose to the Rangers or Flyers in 5 games. The Penguins live and die by the PP. I'm curious to see where the +/- is with 5 on 5.