Penguins Fire A Coach

Looks like the Penguins are heading a new direction when it comes to coaching. This Saturday, they fired coach Mike Johnston. Johnston had been under fire from Penguins fans that he was being too conservative when it came to his players and their play on-the-ice. Others can speculate that he may have been two democratic when it comes to management of his players. Either way, he's gone and the coach for their AHL affiliate Mike Sullivan will take over for those duties. General manager Jim Rutherford hopes that Sullivan will make the players more accountable for their actions. Rutherford also called him an unknown to the Penguins players and he believes that will allow him to be listened to and that the players will play harder and take responsibility for their actions when it comes to the ice.

Sullivan, who was a former head coach with Bruins, takes over a team that is 15-10-3 and is outside of the playoff picture right now. Apparently, that record is not deemed "acceptable" by the Penguins management or by the fans. The Penguins are hoping a little new blood will help the Penguins win the Stanley Cup again, and from their AHL affiliate. Last time they did it, it was with Dan Bylsma who led them to the Stanley Cup championship.

As far as I know when it comes to the Pittsburgh Penguins, they expect to be in the playoff hunt every year and are expected to compete for the title on almost a yearly basis. I don't know Mike Johnston that well or where he played before this, but if the Penguins are saying that he's not holding players accountable for what they did on the ice, then there's a change that needs to be done. The Penguins obviously had to do something, because their expectations are always high and they always expect to compete with the top dogs of the NHL. Right now, that's not looking like the case. I'm hoping this Mike Sullivan guy can change the culture that is the Penguins right now and get them back into the playoff mix. They're a good team but they need a strong coach that can help fill the mold and if Rutherford believes that Sullivan can do that, by all means, let him try.

The Penguins should be able to bounce back and get back into the playoff picture but it requires some strong willpower and accountability and that's two things the Penguins lack right now. So if Mike Sullivan knows what he's doing and he can get the players to listen to him, then I think he's walking into a great situation that allows him to have success. Good luck, Penguins.