Posts About "Mike Johnston"
Sharks' Joachim Blichfeld a Fit with Winterhawks
March 10th, 2017 The San Jose Sharks selected Joachim Blichfeld out of the Malmo Redhawks J20 program with the 210th pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. The native of Frederikshavn, Denmark spent two years with the Redhawks J18 and J20 teams playing in 87 games and recording 35 goals and 28 assists. In the J18 playoffs, the Redhawks squad was down a 3-0...
Stubborn Pittsburgh Penguins Won't Let Playoffs Dictate Play
April 15th, 2016 When Mike Sullivan took over the Pittsburgh Penguins in December he did so with a plan in mind. That plan also aligned perfectly with Jim Rutherford's outlook on how he wanted to build the Penguins, based on speed and an influx of youth. Since that point, the Penguins haven't wavered from that plan one bit. And, all indications are...
Rutherford Responsible for Penguins' Resurgence
April 7th, 2016 Make no mistake, the Pittsburgh Penguins were a debacle following the 2013-14 season. It was that summer that the Penguins would overhaul their front office and hockey operations department. Out was general manager Ray Shero, and eventually head coach Dan Bylsma as well. In the general manager's seat was Jim Rutherford, formerly of...
Just How Good Are Mike Sullivan's Penguins?
April 7th, 2016 The Pittsburgh Penguins are proving doubters wrong. I wrote an extensive column about it just a few days ago, and yes I was one of those who doubted their ability to not only make the playoffs, but make a deep run. As of writing this, the Penguins are 9-1-0 in their last ten, have clinched a playoff spot for the 10th straight season...
Pittsburgh Penguins: Contenders or Pretenders?
January 25th, 2016 Calling the 2015-16 season an emotional rollercoaster for the Pittsburgh Penguins faithful would be the understatement of the year. Expectations were launched into high gear this past summer when the Penguins acquired Phil Kessel, while seemingly adding a new piece to their offensive depth on a weekly basis. Of course, there were plenty...
Vintage Sidney Crosby Has Triumphantly Returned
January 22nd, 2016 At the start of the 2015-16 NHL season, Sidney Crosby was not putting up "Sidney Crosby-esque" point totals. Not only that, but he simply was not looking like the NHL's best player that we've taken for granted for years. Something was wrong, really wrong. The media took Crosby's slump and made it into one of the most overly dramatic...
Penguins: Johnston Is Gone, So Are the Excuses
December 14th, 2015 You could see it coming from miles away. The Pittsburgh Penguins needed a change and it started with the head coach position. In fact, I'm surprised that it took this long. On Saturday, Jim Rutherford announced that both Mike Johnston and Assistant Coach Gary Agnew were relieved of their duties. When speaking with the media after the...
Pittsburgh Penguins Christmas Wish List
December 14th, 2015 Believe it or not, Christmas is just around the corner. Word has it, the Pittsburgh Penguins have quite a lengthy wish list this year. The team has been desperately struggling in search of a successful run for the first time in the 2015-16 season. But, without any luck more than a quarter way through the season, rumours are beginning...
Facing Off: Johnston Gone, Stamkos Going?
December 14th, 2015 Facing Off is a weekly column debating five of hockey’s hottest topics each and every Monday. From current events like trades and hat tricks, to bigger-picture stuff like scandals and expansion — you name it, we’re debating it. Albeit, not always with a serious tone. We’re keeping this column light, so keep that in mind when...
Penguins Fire Mike Johnston, Mike Sullivan Takes Over
December 12th, 2015 The Pittsburgh Penguins have fired coach Mike Johnston, the team announced on Saturday. Johnston's assistant coach Gary Agnew was also relieved of his duties by Pens GM Jim Rutherford. The team has given the head coach job to Mike Sullivan, head coach of the team's AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Sullivan was in his first...
Pittsburgh Penguins: Beating Colorado Changes Nothing
December 10th, 2015 The Pittsburgh Penguins rounded out their recent four-game road trip with a 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche. They played an impressive 40 minutes of hockey through the second and third periods but how much does this win change things when it comes to their head coaching situation? Lets face it, this Penguins team is expected to beat...
Pittsburgh Penguins: Changes are Coming
December 7th, 2015 The Pittsburgh Penguins have reached a pivotal point in the 2015-16 season and unfortunately, they're a team in disarray. It's December, which means the standings begin to matter and the experimental part of the season has passed. It's becoming more and more obvious that change is needed in Pittsburgh. In fact, in a very candid...
Penguins Management and Coaching Disconnected
December 6th, 2015 The Pittsburgh Penguins luck finally ran out against the Los Angeles Kings during a 5-3 on Saturday. They were coming off of a 5-1 win over the San Jose Sharks and the score would indicated they dominated the game, but this was not the case. Against the Sharks, the Penguins couldn't do anything right at even strength as the shot...
