Reports are that Dan Bylsma and Florida GM Dale Tallon have been in touch and will meet this week. Whether it's a ploy to use the Panthers as leverage for negotiations with another team, we shall see. But word is that Bylsma is interested in the position. Since he has won a Cup and is considered a very good, quality coach in this league, that is the good news.
Now the potentially bad.
It was widely speculated after the Pens were eliminated in the playoffs that Bylsma had lost his locker room and their was some descension amongst the ranks, including Sidney Crosby. When your best player is unhappy, that can easily have a trickle-down effect that affects team performance. It looks like it did.
Crosby was hardly the best player in the world against the Rangers, and that in large part is why they are watching the Finals.
But the real question is how much of this was Bylsma's fault? Some would say all of it. Some would say none of it. He didn't buy the groceries in Pittsburgh and was left with a roster that was bereft of the needed depth for a Cup run.
When you hear about locker room problems, it is usually up to the coach to keep that under control. Should Tallon be concerned about these rumors that immediately came to light after Pittsburgh being eliminated?
While Bylsma may be a better choice for head coach over someone like Marc Crawford or Ron Wilson because of the young nature of this Panthers team, would it also be a big risk considering the mental part of the game is still a growing process for these young players?
If he lost the locker room with a veteran-laden team, would it be better or worse for him to be with a team he can mold?
He certainly is an interesting name now thrown in the hat regarding the coaching search, and a final decision should be expected over the next week or so. Vancouver and Carolina will likely be bidding for his services as well.
What do you think? Is Bylsma a good fit in South Florida?
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