Breaking in Bylsma

Tenth in the Eastern Conference.

New head coach.

Kris Letang benched.

A lot has changed for the Pittsburgh Penguins since their Stanley Cup Final run last season. General Manager, Ray Shero, felt as though the struggling Penguins weren’t getting the coaching they needed from Michel Therrien, although he was the one who led them to the Finals. Dan Bylsma, who was coaching the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, is now the new head coach.

Bylsma has been behind the bench for two games so far going 1-0-1 in that span. Not bad. Heading into Saturday’s match up against divisional rivals, Philadelphia Flyers, he had made a few changes. He wants to change the attitude and energy of his hockey club. Bylsma is looking for a more aggressive style of hockey to be played and he wants guys to show up every night to play. Now while I agree with this, I personally think he should get to know each player and their style of play, before making any drastic changes that affects the line-up. Yes, players should show up to play every night. Yes, the players do need to bring energy and have a good attitude going into each game, but is it possible for a coach to notice each individual on a twenty-man roster after only coaching two games? No. I can’t imagine his reasoning for benching the puck-moving, defenseman, Kris Letang.

Bylsma’s reasoning was quoted as, “I thought he didn’t play particularly well,” this meaning, the 3-2 shootout loss versus the New York Islanders. That would be a very good reason to bench somebody…if you were coaching the team throughout the season and had more knowledge of the players, their motivators and a better feel for what you were doing.

The Pens game against the Islanders was an okay performance from the team, and I could point out a handful of players who didn’t play “particularly well”. Take goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury for example. He’s the one who let up both goals, didn’t handle all the rebounds well, and let up goals in the shootout which decided the game. Should Bylsma just bench him? No, because every goalie has a game where it’s not their best. How about twenty-one year old captain, Sidney Crosby? He’s the captain of this young Penguins team. He’s supposed to help motivate the guys and contribute on both ends of the ice himself. Why not take Crosby by the shoulders, shake him and tell him to wake up! The Pens as a whole team have been struggling, and the blame shouldn’t be put on the shoulders of one individual.

Letang is a young, energetic defenseman who can move the puck up the ice with speed. This season he has had two two-goal games, and has five goals total with nineteen points. Letang was finally finding his confidence this season. His defense partner at most times, Brooks Orpik, once said that Letang will always ask him after games if he played OK. I’d say Letang plays more than OK. He has the potential to be an All-Star defenseman in his young career, and he’s already been invited to the All-Star game twice, taking part in the Young Stars game.

I sure hope Bylsma is careful with the rest of the decisions he makes as coach, as he has already left a bad taste in my mouth.