Olczyk and Staff Fired

[Louie 28]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/article.jsp...214_151234_3208

I know Welday... he's been with the team since the 80s....

[this guy 0]

Was Welday interviewed on the show Fearless on OLN (about Mario Lemieux)?

[Chadd 916]

As if the problems are Eddie's fault. Too bad they're paying Mario $3M to sit out again this year, they could have used that money for players.

[warrior37 0]

how did that one song go by the doors? "this is the end..."

[beaucoup_fish 0]

It's not Eddie's fault, but the coach is always the first one to go. I get the feelign that Pittsburgh, actually, let's just say "The Penguins," are going to be a head coach sucking vacuum for a while...sucking them in, throwing it in reverse and spitting 'em out...

[Chadd 916]

It's not Eddie's fault, but the coach is always the first one to go. I get the feelign that Pittsburgh, actually, let's just say "The Penguins," are going to be a head coach sucking vacuum for a while...sucking them in, throwing it in reverse and spitting 'em out...

Well going back to 99-00

Ed Olczyk

Rick Kehoe

Ivan Hlinka

Kevin Constantine

[Louie 28]

Hlinka was brought in because they thought he could straighten out Jagr...

[D3nZ 0]

God bless XM Radio. There were rumors yesterday night around midnight my time and the rumors starting running around on the radio and Michel Bergeron(former coach of the Nordiques) was on the sports debate show on tv. He (Michel B.) immediatly called Michel Therrien on his cellphone and he didn't answer, that was the first sign cause Michel T's Familly still lives in Quebec and he ALWAYS answer's his calls in just case. Later around 2, they annonced it on Sportsnet that the whole staff would be fired and Michel would be brought in from Wilkes.

I coudn't be happier for Michel T. That is a guy who never gave up, the pressure was just too much in Montreal. He's a great coach and he will for sure help the P's.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

The player the Pens would have need this year is in Montreal now, too bad... ;)

[Fire0nIce228 1]

Isn't he sittin on his can in the pressbox watching?

[D3nZ 0]

Yeah but he's supposed to come back tuesday, same knee operation he had when he was with the Rangers back in the days.

[DarkStar50 679]

It's not Eddie's fault, but the coach is always the first one to go.  I get the feelign that Pittsburgh, actually, let's just say "The Penguins," are going to be a head coach sucking vacuum for a while...sucking them in, throwing it in reverse and spitting 'em out...

Well going back to 99-00

Ed Olczyk

Rick Kehoe

Ivan Hlinka

Kevin Constantine

Not exactly a Scotty Bowman among that bunch. the proof of having a coach with systems, accountability, and respect is John Tortorella in Tampa Bay and the results this far of Tom Renney in New York. Eddie O was probably in over his head. They are hired to be fired.

[Jim A 4]

I wonder if they treated Eddie any better than they did Constantine when they wanted him to quit so they wouldn't have to pay him his remaining salary...

they never should have let Tortorella leave the NYR system, but its probably the best thing that ever happened to Torts..

[ryno 0]

Eh, nothing will help that team. Put together the wrong way with a bunch of has beens who do not play defense.

They could have started a hell of a rebuild, but instead they neglected their own blood at times in favor of these misfit players. I am glad it back fired.

Sounds like the Rangers for the past 10 years huh? ;)

[dietzie27 0]

its a shame because constaintine was a good coach, he was canned because jagr didnt want to play his system.

[Adam91 0]

I happy for Thierren. I think hes a great coach.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

I think it was pretty damn obvious that a change was needed. Heck anyone with eyes could see something needed to be done. Coaches are just the first to go usually. Edzo was so young and inexperienced at coaching that I doubted that any of the vets listened to him, and all the young guys proboly listened to the vets. I could see how his coaching record could suck so bad with the pre-lockout Pens, but not these new guys. Bust Sids balls for speaking up about things, but he's just saying what everyone else already knows. Next step is to dump Gonchar, Leclair, and T-bo to the highest bidder.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

In other business, the owners heard a report from the Pittsburgh Penguins on the possibility the franchise could move, most likely to Kansas City. The ownership is pushing for a gaming license to operate slot machines that would be used to fund a new arena to keep the team in Pittsburgh.

"We've been saying that for a long time and we have a plan that's tied to gaming," Penguins president Ken Sawyer said. "But it will be an unbelievable plan, the best in the history of Pennsylvania for the public sector. So we think it's a no-brainer. But it will take at least a year to find out if our gaming partner wins the license. We're not leaving Pittsburgh until June 2007 at the earliest."

[Chadd 916]

In other business, the owners heard a report from the Pittsburgh Penguins on the possibility the franchise could move, most likely to Kansas City. The ownership is pushing for a gaming license to operate slot machines that would be used to fund a new arena to keep the team in Pittsburgh.

"We've been saying that for a long time and we have a plan that's tied to gaming," Penguins president Ken Sawyer said. "But it will be an unbelievable plan, the best in the history of Pennsylvania for the public sector. So we think it's a no-brainer. But it will take at least a year to find out if our gaming partner wins the license. We're not leaving Pittsburgh until June 2007 at the earliest."

I wouldn't count on them getting the license. They aren't as well-connected as the other groups.

[Chadd 916]

I think it was pretty damn obvious that a change was needed.  Heck anyone with eyes could see something needed to be done.  Coaches are just the first to go usually.  Edzo was so young and inexperienced at coaching that I doubted that any of the vets listened to him, and all the young guys proboly listened to the vets.  I could see how his coaching record could suck so bad with the pre-lockout Pens, but not these new guys.  Bust Sids balls for speaking up about things, but he's just saying what everyone else already knows.  Next step is to dump Gonchar, Leclair, and T-bo to the highest bidder.

True or not, I don't think he has come even close to paying his dues for him to say that.

And I don't see any coach helping that sorry excuse for a team. I don't blame Eddie O all too much

Unless Mario and the other veterans are subject to the same discipline as the other players, you aren't going to see any improvement.

[ryno 0]

Well, the Pens tried but lost their first game under their new coach tonight, 4-3.

It went to OT and with the amazing defensive brigade of:

33 19 87 66 32 29

On the ice, it is a miracle they let one in

Actually Buffalo was on the power play, 4 on 3, so you've got a few too many guys listed on the ice.

[Fire0nIce228 1]

The only thing that kinda upsets me is the one guy they fired, the conditioning coach I think, was with the team 17 years.