Ryan Wilson: Bylsma Had Job Opportunities + I Reveal Blog Topic For The Next Week Bylsma Had Job Opportunities + I Reveal Blog Topic For The Next Week

I wish him luck but the young talent and inability to develop and use it properly was a big issue with the Pens. Have a great vacation, Gunner!

I like Bylsma, but I'm glad he turned the Canes down. Overpaying for Bylsma while guys like Bill Peters and Mike Johnston available seems silly.

I like Bylsma, but I'm glad he turned the Canes down. Overpaying for Bylsma while guys like Bill Peters and Mike Johnston available seems silly.
- BINGO!

Obviously, Dan had a lot of wins in Pittsburgh. But there were some things about him I grew REALLY tired of. He's probably a good coach. But he doesn't match lines well, very stubborn about his system (which I dont really like the stretch pass to begin with), and seemed to play favorites with some veteran and grinder types. I wish him well and thank him for the wins, but I'm ready to move on. I think the Canes were better off giving a guy like Peters a shot rather than Bylsma, imo.

Obviously, Dan had a lot of wins in Pittsburgh. But there were some things about him I grew REALLY tired of. He's probably a good coach. But he doesn't match lines well, very stubborn about his system (which I dont really like the stretch pass to begin with), and seemed to play favorites with some veteran and grinder types. I wish him well and thank him for the wins, but I'm ready to move on. I think the Canes were better off giving a guy like Peters a shot rather than Bylsma, imo.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

By all accounts he sounds like he'd be a terrible fit for the Islanders.

Who has the better defensive game, Despres or Pouliot? Pouliot has that stigma of being completely offensive minded but I have heard he can hold his own in the defensive zone. Just curious to see what you guys think.

Obviously, Dan had a lot of wins in Pittsburgh. But there were some things about him I grew REALLY tired of. He's probably a good coach. But he doesn't match lines well, very stubborn about his system (which I dont really like the stretch pass to begin with), and seemed to play favorites with some veteran and grinder types. I wish him well and thank him for the wins, but I'm ready to move on. I think the Canes were better off giving a guy like Peters a shot rather than Bylsma, imo.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I think Dan CAN be a great coach, but he does lack flexibility in his stye, and giving guys like Craig Adams nearly any ice-time at all is just lunacy.

Who has the better defensive game, Despres or Pouliot? Pouliot has that stigma of being completely offensive minded but I have heard he can hold his own in the defensive zone. Just curious to see what you guys think.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I haven't watched Despres enough to make a call between the two, but Pouliot is slightly underrated defensively. You have to learn to at least be OKAY defensively to even get a look in the WHL.

I haven't watched Despres enough to make a call between the two, but Pouliot is slightly underrated defensively. You have to learn to at least be OKAY defensively to even get a look in the WHL.
- BINGO!

Reinhart and Pulock are the next Jay-Z and Biggie Smalls of Brooklyn

Detroit.

Reinhart and Pulock are the next Jay-Z and Biggie Smalls of Brooklyn
- eichiefs9

How unfortunate for them.

How unfortunate for them.
- BINGO!

Authorities say Pulock was gunned down in a hailstorm of bullets, sprayed from a blue and red SUV. The suspect is described as 6'4'' and resembling Guy Fawkes. The suspect was seen hanging out the driver's window shouting "Kreid or Die B!tches" as the vehicle fled down Hempstead Turnpike. The vehicle also plowed over 3 goaltenders while fleeing the scene. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Nassau County Police Department.

I think overall DB's tenure has to be considered a success because, after all, he did win a Cup. You can make the argument that it was won while the team still had Therrien's defensive principles etched in their collective minds. But, nonetheless, the Cup was won against a stacked Wings team.

With that said, his tenure can also be viewed as a period of underachievement.

I certainly do not believe the Pens should have won the Cup each year.

My issue is with how they lost more than the fact that they did lose.

The Rangers, Flyers, Habs, and Bruins losses were very damming in my mind. IMO, we were not only outcoached, but DB was unable to steer the team back on the right path in each of those series. Once the ball started rolling downhill and adversity struck, he couldn't stop it. Good coaches can.

Authorities say Pulock was gunned down in a hailstorm of bullets, sprayed from a blue and red SUV. The suspect is described as 6'4'' and resembling Guy Fawkes. The suspect was seen hanging out the driver's window shouting "Kreid or Die B!tches" as the vehicle fled down Hempstead Turnpike. The vehicle also plowed over 3 goaltenders while fleeing the scene. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Nassau County Police Department.
- eichiefs9

This is gold.

Authorities say Pulock was gunned down in a hailstorm of bullets, sprayed from a blue and red SUV. The suspect is described as 6'4'' and resembling Guy Fawkes. The suspect was seen hanging out the driver's window shouting "Kreid or Die B!tches" as the vehicle fled down Hempstead Turnpike. The vehicle also plowed over 3 goaltenders while fleeing the scene. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Nassau County Police Department.
- eichiefs9

Dammit how has no one arrested Suge Knight yet?

I think overall DB's tenure has to be considered a success because, after all, he did win a Cup. You can make the argument that it was won while the team still had Therrien's defensive principles etched in their collective minds. But, nonetheless, the Cup was won against a stacked Wings team.

With that said, his tenure can also be viewed as a period of underachievement.

I certainly do not believe the Pens should have won the Cup each year.

My issue is with how they lost more than the fact that they did lose.

The Rangers, Flyers, Habs, and Bruins losses were very damming in my mind. IMO, we were not only outcoached, but DB was unable to steer the team back on the right path in each of those series. Once the ball started rolling downhill and adversity struck, he couldn't stop it. Good coaches can.
- 87_71_11_29

I agree with everything you said. Except I wouldn't view his tenure as a success...for the exact reasons you cited. More often than not he under-performed in the playoffs. Its easy to make a coach the scapegoat, but in most cases, there were obvious issues that would fall on the shoulders of the coach. We had some really stacked teams going in to the postseason, and with better adjustments, line combinations, discipline/less bad penalties, bouncing back better after a loss, etc....I think we could have won another cup since 09.

Im not taking the cup win away from him....but the more he put his stamp on the team over his tenure, the more problems and under-performance we had.

Who has the better defensive game, Despres or Pouliot? Pouliot has that stigma of being completely offensive minded but I have heard he can hold his own in the defensive zone. Just curious to see what you guys think.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Honestly, I always thought Despres was solid defensively. I certainly wouldn't call him a D-first guy, but he isn't a liability in his own end & his size gives him a pretty substantial reach. Needs to get better in his posistioning & picking his spots to lay out a hit (like Orpik needed to when he was younger), but certainly has a willingness to use his size.

Never really watched Pouliet a lot, but I've heard due to his size (5'11") he is projected to have some issues with bigger players in his own end at the NHL level. Still, Letang and Maatta are only 6'0" & Paul Marti 6'1"; as long as he can learn to use his stick properly he should be fine.

Overall, I'd say Despres has the better defensive game, but Pouliet doesn't seem to be as big of a defensive liability as he has been made out to be at time.

Reinhart and Pulock are the next Jay-Z and Biggie Smalls of Brooklyn
- eichiefs9

make you poop ya draws

Honestly, I always thought Despres was solid defensively. I certainly wouldn't call him a D-first guy, but he isn't a liability in his own end & his size gives him a pretty substantial reach. Needs to get better in his posistioning & picking his spots to lay out a hit (like Orpik needed to when he was younger), but certainly has a willingness to use his size.

Never really watched Pouliet a lot, but I've heard due to his size (5'11") he is projected to have some issues with bigger players in his own end at the NHL level. Still, Letang and Maatta are only 6'0" & Paul Marti 6'1"; as long as he can learn to use his stick properly he should be fine.

Overall, I'd say Despres has the better defensive game, but Pouliet doesn't seem to be as big of a defensive liability as he has been made out to be at time.
- s0rcerer1984

I think if he is given consistent playing time, Despres is going to have a great year. Kid has all the intangibles you would want as a defenseman. Wouldn't be surprised to see the Pens slowly convert Despres into Letang's partner on the top pairing, and moving Martin down to the 2nd pairing with Ehrhoff.

make you poop ya draws
- glove_was_stuck

Honestly, as long as they're not the rapper that randomly chopped his dong off..I'm good.

I think if he is given consistent playing time, Despres is going to have a great year. Kid has all the intangibles you would want as a defenseman. Wouldn't be surprised to see the Pens slowly convert Despres into Letang's partner on the top pairing, and moving Martin down to the 2nd pairing with Ehrhoff.
- cap1681

Rather not see that happen, and that's no knock on Despres. Letang needs a guy that has very good defensive awareness and knows exactly where to go and what to do when Letang pinches or tries to drive an attack. Not saying that Despres is not good enough, but his youth and lack of experience doesn't make him the ideal candidate for the job. Right now, I think Martin is the perfect guy. Maybe a few years down the road, but I see that job going more to Olli Maatta than Despres.

Honestly, as long as they're not the rapper that randomly chopped his dong off..I'm good.
- eichiefs9

Nah dude its a song. You can't invoke the names of Hov and Notorious and not immediately break out into Brooklyn's Finest.

Rather not see that happen, and that's no knock on Despres. Letang needs a guy that has very good defensive awareness and knows exactly where to go and what to do when Letang pinches or tries to drive an attack. Not saying that Despres is not good enough, but his youth and lack of experience doesn't make him the ideal candidate for the job. Right now, I think Martin is the perfect guy. Maybe a few years down the road, but I see that job going more to Olli Maatta than Despres.
- Victoro311

I agree about Maatta. I think Maatta and Letang is the top pairing of the future. And to reiterate....Letang needs a good positional partner but the LAST thing he needs is a slow, defensive defenseman to "cover his mistakes" *cough* Scuderi *cough*

Nah dude its a song. You can't invoke the names of Hov and Notorious and not immediately break out into Brooklyn's Finest.
- Victoro311

I know it's a song.

Every white kid living in Long Island suburbia grew up driving around blasting Biggie at a high volume and repping Brooklyn, despite never having done much more than driving through a lower income area, or attending an Islander game in one.