Ryan Wilson: The Dan Bylsma Conundrum Lots of variables in play when trying to decide Bylsma's future.

That's really bad news about Letang , hope it's not true , I was really hoping he would make it back , especially after he was cleared for full practice ? If he was having dizzy spells would he be cleared for practice ? Seems like that would be potentially dangerous to get dizzy going full speed at practice ?

Interesting about Vokoun... I will be curious to see how he does in the AHL. I just can't imagine a scenario where he plays this post season.

Just finished reading the Jagr interview, I love this quote:
"I don't know where I'm going to play, but I want to still play until I can't walk anymore," Jagr said. "To me, age is nothing. I don't get old. I don't know why. You've gotta ask God, man."

Please never retire

Interesting about Vokoun... I will be curious to see how he does in the AHL. I just can't imagine a scenario where he plays this post season.
- rival22

If Vokoun played that means MAF was a dumpster fire again and if that is the case they have no shot anyways.

It boils down to where they bow out for me. Yea they are battered but a lot of teams have injuries. Yes the cap went down but it went down for every team. It's cup or bust for me. If Malkin returns Letang is the only significant injury remaining. There are plenty of teams who are missing a significant piece. Not saying that Dan should fall on the sword but he will.

If Vokoun played that means MAF was a dumpster fire again and if that is the case they have no shot anyways.
- Ryan_Wilson

I would think that it means that MAF and Zatkoff were dumpster fires... and by that point of going to Vokoun, you are probably cleaning our your lockers.

I think the average tenure for an NHL coach winning his first cup with a team is 4 or 4.5 years. Bylsma has already won a cup and been there 6 years. I knew Therrien wasn't the going to win a cup before him. Point is? Move on a get a great coach with a different style. Get the most out of those players, don't waste a few more years just trying to see if he can rekindle the magic.

It boils down to where they bow out for me. Yea they are battered but a lot of teams have injuries. Yes the cap went down but it went down for every team. It's cup or bust for me. If Malkin returns Letang is the only significant injury remaining. There are plenty of teams who are missing a significant piece. Not saying that Dan should fall on the sword but he will.
- dbell646

I think Ryan summarized it well... If they lose a well played, close 7 game series to Detroit, and like Detroit goes on to beat Boston, you can't really be too upset. But he's gotta be gone if the team again falls apart emotionally and loses.

If Vokoun played that means MAF was a dumpster fire again and if that is the case they have no shot anyways.
- Ryan_Wilson

Or gets hurt. *knock on wood*

Just finished reading the Jagr interview, I love this quote:
"I don't know where I'm going to play, but I want to still play until I can't walk anymore," Jagr said. "To me, age is nothing. I don't get old. I don't know why. You've gotta ask God, man."

Please never retire
- BulliesPhan87

So great. I know the #TeemuForever is done up a bit but I don't care. #JagrForever

So great. I know the #TeemuForever is done up a bit but I don't care. #JagrForever

- HopintheCordoba

I still hope one day he will take me to the mountaintop to train in his ways.

I would think that it means that MAF and Zatkoff were dumpster fires... and by that point of going to Vokoun, you are probably cleaning our your lockers.
- rival22

Not necessarily. They might still trust Vokoun more than Zatkoff in playoff hockey. This is a team that's big on vets over youth already.

But as for Vokoun going down, this has Jason Botterill managing the cap written all over it. I'd lay money that Vokoun probably could have been sent down a few weeks ago for his conditioning assignment, but since it limits the number of games/time he can be there, they waited until now to do it because Zatkoff is not waiver-exempt and don't want to lose him by sending him down, but can't fully activate Vokoun until the cap/roster limits end when the playoffs start. So they held off sending him down for conditioning and to see some pucks in game action. But assuming he performs as expected there, when he comes back as soon as the regular season ends, he's the #2 and Zatkoff goes to #3 on the depth chart.

Should be a fun night to watch standings tonight... Detroit, Philly, Columbus, Dallas and Phoenix all play.

I like how Columbus has left the Western conference, but with back to back games against Phoenix and Dallas, they have a ton of influence on that final West playoff spot.

I might be a little cynical, but I've gotta go with the "cup finals or bust" mentality here. There's fundamental problems with the Pens style of play that haven't been adjusted in years. There is no pragmatism to the coaching or playing style. It's monolithic and that doesn't work over the long term. It works SOMETIMES. But never holds up over time.

I mean, hockey is like chess. You adjust. They adjust to counteract you. Then you adjust again in some way. Lather, rinse and repeat. But we don't see that often enough. There's some wiggle to the gameplan, but nothing drastic. Even temporarily to confuse the opponents or screw with the opposing coach. Nothing. There's no sense of "do whatever it takes to win and take whatever they give you" to this team. And that might be because of the superstars, but it might also be because of the coach. I have a feeling it's the coach. And that is where the problem will get changed. On the coaching staff.

The Penguins ran away with the Metropolitan division in spite of Dan Bylsma not because of him

He is the one holding them back from being truly elite...

I think Ryan summarized it well... If they lose a well played, close 7 game series to Detroit, and like Detroit goes on to beat Boston, you can't really be too upset. But he's gotta be gone if the team again falls apart emotionally and loses.
- rival22

I disagree. I think he used his get out of jail free cards already. If they lost a 7 game series to Detroit in round 1 he's gone for sure. When the owners don't make money they aren't happy. 1 round of playoff tickets aint gonna cut it when they have been spending to the ceiling year in and year out.

Should be a fun night to watch standings tonight... Detroit, Philly, Columbus, Dallas and Phoenix all play.

I like how Columbus has left the Western conference, but with back to back games against Phoenix and Dallas, they have a ton of influence on that final West playoff spot.
- rival22

Interesting for sure. Not only can they change some things out West. They can do a few things in the East too. The last 2 spots are very tight. Depending on tonight and tomorrow night a few things could change.

The Penguins have a bit of a say too...

1) Fire Bylsma.
2) Trade for Hal Gill
3) ?
4) Make $$
5) Win Stanley Cup

It's pretty clear what the plan is.

fire him

1) Fire Bylsma.
2) Trade for Hal Gill
3) ?
4) Make $$
5) Win Stanley Cup

It's pretty clear what the plan is.
- jmatchett383

#3 must be 'collect underpants'.

I mean this as a 100% serious question to Penguins fans:

Very simply, do you expect the Penguins to be able to beat the Bruins with the way things are now (i.e. no further injuries to either team, and injured players keeping to projected timetable of return)? As good as the Penguins are, would you expect them to be able to beat Boston (not CAN they, would they be the favorite)?

#3 must be 'collect underpants'.
- canadianpenfan

You may have a point sir.

I mean this as a 100% serious question to Penguins fans:

Very simply, do you expect the Penguins to be able to beat the Bruins with the way things are now (i.e. no further injuries to either team, and injured players keeping to projected timetable of return)? As good as the Penguins are, would you expect them to be able to beat Boston (not CAN they, would they be the favorite)?
- jmatchett383

Of course they wouldn't be the favorite. Boston is the favorite by a mile to represent the East.