Dan Bylsma Receives Three-Year Contract Extension in Pittsburgh

[Thrillhouse]

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma has agreed to a three-year contract extension through the 2013-14 season, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.

Bylsma, 40, led the Penguins to a Stanley Cup in 2009 and has his team in the hunt for the top spot in the Eastern Conference this year despite an injury-depleted lineup.

“Dan has very quickly established himself as one of the best coaches in the National Hockey League,” Shero said. “He has been a perfect fit for our organization since day one, and we look forward to having him leading our team for the next three seasons.

“I think what we’ve been able to accomplish so far his season, even with players like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal out of the lineup for extended periods of time, is a testament to his coaching system, his adaptability, and his composure under pressure.”

Bylsma has an overall record of 104-52-19 with the Penguins and has the highest winning percentage (.649) of any coach in franchise history. He also is tied with the legendary Scotty Bowman for the team record in playoff victories (23) and playoff series wins (five).

This season, Bylsma has led the Pens to a 39-21-8 record for 86 points – tied for third place in the overall NHL standings – despite having seen his team already lose 265 man-games to injury. That includes Staal missing 39 games, Crosby missing 27, Malkin missing 25, Chris Kunitz missing 15, Mark Letestu missing 13 and Brooks Orpik missing 12.

The Penguins currently lead the NHL in penalty-killing efficiency (86.8 percent) while ranking fifth in team goals-against average (2.41) and tied for fifth in one-goal wins (19). They’re also tied for seventh in goals scored.

Bylsma was named interim head coach of the Penguins on February 15, 2009, with the team in 10th place in the conference and in danger of missing the playoffs altogether. They responded by going 18-3-4 in 25 regular season games to rise to fourth in the conference standings, then defeated Philadelphia, Washington, Carolina and Detroit en route to the Stanley Cup. Along the way, he also lost the “interim” tag.

Last year, in his first full season behind the bench, the Penguins were 47-28-7 for 101 points.

The native of Grand Haven, Michigan played nine NHL seasons as a right winger with Los Angeles and Anaheim from 1995-2004. He played 429 NHL regular season games, recording 19 goals and 62 points, and also played in the 2003 Stanley Cup Final with Anaheim.

He began his coaching career as an assistant with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks of the AHL in 2004-05 and made his NHL coaching debut as an assistant with the New York Islanders in 2005-06.

Bylsma was an assistant coach with the Penguins’ farm team in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for two seasons from 2006-08 and was named head coach at the start of the 2008-09 season. He went 35-16-2 in 54 games with WBS before being promoted to Pittsburgh in February of that season.

Bylsma played four years of college hockey at Bowling Green. He and his wife, Mary Beth, have one son, Bryan, and reside in the North Hills.

[JKidd]

Very well deserved.

[Philly Fan 27]

good move, he's a great coach

[thepolishkid88]

Thrilled to see him get an extension. Man deserves it.

Yesterday I enjoyed sitting in line for Pens tickets at about 11 AM for the Pens Student Rush program. $25 and a college ID gets you a ticket. Anyway, its about 6 hours into the boredem that is waiting in line and Bylsma comes out and shakes his head at us. He was talking to most of the kids as he made his way to Qudoba to get his pateneted Disco Dan buritto from there. Best coach anyone could ever ask for.

[Mike Tython]

Mixed emotions here. For the most part, I like the guy, but the way he utilizes his weapons pisses me off at times...especially Malkin. His system calls for tough, physical hockey which I really like, but it seems like there's no real plan in place to, you know, actually score a freaking goal. Too much crap behind the net that leads to nothing going into the net. But it could be Therrien behind the bench, so I'll be happy that it ain't.

[FightingIsGood]

Got the text alert while I was having lunch. A well-deserved extension indeed. He should get some consideration for the Jack Adams Trophy this year too, but I know he won't.

And Mike...you're never happy about anything, so it doesn't shock me that you aren't a huge fan of Bylsma. Maybe try pulling the underwear out of your ass every once in a while and be happy you aren't rooting for the Florida Panthers.

[Mike Tython]

Originally Posted by FightingIsGood

And Mike...you're never happy about anything, so it doesn't shock me that you aren't a huge fan of Bylsma. Maybe try pulling the underwear out of your ass every once in a while and be happy you aren't rooting for the Florida Panthers.

No, I'm not unhappy with keeping him around, but there are a few things he does that just makes me shake my head, but I guess there's worse coaches out there. I just fear that eventually Malkin's going to get shoved out of town. I think Bylsma's philosophy is a contributor to Malkin not putting up numbers we're accustomed to, and it could eventually lead to a backlash toward the guy.

[FightingIsGood]

Originally Posted by Mike Tython

No, I'm not unhappy with keeping him around, but there are a few things he does that just makes me shake my head, but I guess there's worse coaches out there. I just fear that eventually Malkin's going to get shoved out of town. I think Bylsma's philosophy is a contributor to Malkin not putting up numbers we're accustomed to, and it could eventually lead to a backlash toward the guy.

It isn't Bylsma's philosophy that's the problem. You'd think his up-tempo style would be tailor-made for a superstar like Malkin. It's the lack of quality linemates, along with injuries, that has really hurt his production. If Bylsma's system was an issue, why did he lead the league in playoff scoring and won the Conn Smythe after he took over as coach? No, you give him better linemates (Neal will be on his line next year), and I bet his production gets back to what we all expect. And besides, it's on HIM to adapt to the coach's system, because that's what a superstar is supposed to be able to do. I'm not sure why you're so worried about them getting rid of Malkin...Shero has repeatedly said that he will not trade him. Staal will go before Malkin does, which I know would make you happy.

[ScottRasner]

The guy obviously knows what he's doing. Congrats, Pens fans.

[Killah_punk]

Solid coach.

[Machinehead2k5]

I think Gino will have Kovalev on his line next season. Gino NEEDS another Russian on the team.

I could see this next year for the top two lines:
Kunitz - Crosby - Neal
Dupuis/Tangradi - Gino - Kovalev

[chump]

Only way I can see Kovy being able to come back next year is if hes making about 1.5million for the season.

And great job keeping Bylsma around, guy has done a great job, especially lately with the injuries. Amazingly enough, minus the talent, the Pens are still an exciting team to watch.

[Machinehead2k5]

I think Bylsma/Shero could get him to play for what Bill Guerin played for and the fact that we'll have some cap room with the moves that will happen. I can see Asham, Talbot, Adams, Comrie, not coming back for cheaper alternatives (Jeffrey, Letestu, Sterling). I would like to keep Asham and Talbot though.

[chump]

Yeah, would be really nice to see Asham actually play for a season in a Pens sweater. Might even come back for the bargain price they signed him for last year. But, who knows who will stay and who will go. They definitely have had alot of AHL talent come up and prove themselves very well these last two months, so alot of people could be expendable if they try to even slightly over-price themselves. Thankfully, it almost seems like Shero knows what hes doing in the GM office

[FightingIsGood]

Letestu already signed an extension, so he'll be here for sure next season. Talbot will likely go unless he takes a pay cut, which he should because his play the last 2 seasons hasn't been close to being worth a million bucks. If he goes, Jeffrey will take his spot. Comrie will be as good as gone, and I see Asham coming back for the same price. It's not like he has a lot of leverage coming off an injury-plagued season.