Ryan Wilson: Mike Johnston Will Embrace Skill and Penguins Should Thrive Mike Johnston Will Embrace Skill and Penguins Should Thrive

another gif start, to spite those who dislike them

I for one am excited... let's talk to some ufas...

Let's go pens

another gif start, to spite those who dislike them
- Guile

That Gunny wants to light him up! That's awesome!

Ok now we have a coach lets move on to more pressing issues, trading scuds, Nisk's rights, top 6 F, moving Neal.

Any news on the assistant coaches (besides Tocchet)?

Very solid hire here. Excited to see what Johnston can do.

That Gunny wants to light him up! That's awesome!

Ok now we have a coach lets move on to more pressing issues, trading scuds, Nisk's rights, top 6 F, moving Neal.
- sammy87

Window on Nisk's rights is virtually closed. Got under a week to to find a suitor, hash out a deal, and then for their side... sign Nisk to a deal before the market opens up.
Pretty sure no one wants to have that short a timeline... unless the GM focus group had someone ready today for Johnston to voice on.

maybe he can play goalie too?

Good luck on your new gig Mr. Johnston.

PS Mike, I'm still pissed over who you started in goal in game 7 of the finals.....

@TSNBobMcKenzie - Jason Spezza trade talk heating up. OTT in conversation with 4 teams, three in the West and one in the East.

*Crossing fingers and praying that the Pens are NOT the one team in the East. My guess would be the Rags.

@TSNBobMcKenzie - Jason Spezza trade talk heating up. OTT in conversation with 4 teams, three in the West and one in the East.

*Crossing fingers and praying that the Pens are NOT the one team in the East. My guess would be the Rags.
- cap1681

It is Florida

Window on Nisk's rights is virtually closed. Got under a week to to find a suitor, hash out a deal, and then for their side... sign Nisk to a deal before the market opens up.
Pretty sure no one wants to have that short a timeline... unless the GM focus group had someone ready today for Johnston to voice on.
- Guile

I think it is entirely closed. Teams are allowed to talk to Nisky as of 12:01 AM this morning. They just can't sign him until July 1. Why in the world would any team trade for his rights when they can talk to him to gauge his interest now. I'm sure in talking they will know if they will make him an offer or not on July 1 and I don't doubt for a second that agreements are made and just waiting for July 1 to "make it official"

JR saying he didn't have Johnston originally on the list because he thought another team would hire him is pretty dumb. At least the search is finally over. What a smooth process that was. He values skill yet Tocchet wants grit. It will be interesting to see how they work together. I rather have Johnston pick his own assistants though. I do have my concerns about the hiring but I'm not down on the selection. I'm not that familiar with him but I look forward to seeing what he can do with the team. I'm sort of neutral about the hiring but I hope he will be able to hold players accountable for when they are not performing up to par or when they do selfish things to hurt the team. Welcome to Pittsburgh Mike and good luck!

I for one am excited... let's talk to some ufas...

Let's go pens
- nh4442

My UFA wish list

Bruins: Iggy
Sabers: Konopka
Wings: Legwand
Flyers: Downie
Rags: Boyle
Yotes: Bissonnette
Blues: Ott

Buy out: Malone- league min, 1 yr

More important is unloading Sutter, that is what the success of this season depends on, say whatever you want he is not a winner.

Semi interesting stuff from Bob Errey via Joe Starkey

"Johnston is a highly respected hockey coach. I got an unsolicited call from one Bob Errey telling me as much today. Errey played for Johnston, who was an assistant coach under Andy Murray with Canada’s gold medal-winning 1997 World Championship team in Helsinki. That team included Jarome Iginla, Keith Primeau and Rob Blake. Errey says Johnston is a “worldly coach who has seen every system there is.” Calls him a “people person” who instantly gains the respect of players and learned under some of the best, including Murray.

People are worried about how Johnston will handle his stars — Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin? Maybe they need to handle themselves better in the crucible of playoff hockey. Johnston won't be overwhelmed at the notion of coaching elite players. He was an associate coach for some very good teams in Vancouver and also an associate coach in L.A. You saw the Team Canada roster from above. The man is a career coach. If he lays out the right plan, players will respond.
"

My UFA wish list

Bruins: Iggy
Sabers: Konopka
Wings: Legwand
Flyers: Downie
Rags: Boyle
Yotes: Bissonnette
Blues: Ott

Buy out: Malone- league min, 1 yr

More important is unloading Sutter, that is what the success of this season depends on, say whatever you want he is not a winner.
- nbartley9

We have very, very different wish lists.

We have very, very different wish lists.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

So does the new coach.

We have very, very different wish lists.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Lets see yours, I would be interested to look at it.

So does the new coach.
- Ryan_Wilson

Burn

I like your tweets about Ho-sang.. but does size bother you? Isn't he like 5' 9" or 5' 10"?

Thoughts on if he is still avail in 2nd who could be traded to get that pick?

Good hire

We have very, very different wish lists.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

The only thing I really want to do is to offer sheet O'Reilly, and Pittsburgh lacks the picks to do it. I sincerely hope that Pittsburgh is not a player at all during this summer's extremely weak free agency crop.

So does the new coach.
- Ryan_Wilson

I would appreciate your responses in the form of a graph, or pie chart. Because I hear the new coach does his work solely off of them.

Last years roster was so awesome lets add Ales Hemsky and call it a day, that fixes not one single roster flaw.

My UFA wish list

Bruins: Iggy
Sabers: Konopka
Wings: Legwand
Flyers: Downie
Rags: Boyle
Yotes: Bissonnette
Blues: Ott

Buy out: Malone- league min, 1 yr

More important is unloading Sutter, that is what the success of this season depends on, say whatever you want he is not a winner.
- nbartley9

Konopka and Malone could share stories about what illegal susbstances they put in their bodies.

Konopka and Malone could share stories about what illegal susbstances they put in their bodies.
- acdc1206

Talk about a fun bus ride to Columbus!! haha

Burn

I like your tweets about Ho-sang.. but does size bother you? Isn't he like 5' 9" or 5' 10"?

Thoughts on if he is still avail in 2nd who could be traded to get that pick?
- nh4442

Reading about Ho-Sang I'm concerned about his character.