|
|
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins have insisted during their extensive front office overhaul that the on-ice product doesnt need to change much for the franchise to return to the NHLs elite. Authentic Zdeno Chara Jersey . Small tweaks, not big ones, are required. Mike Johnstons job is to figure out which ones to make and -- perhaps even more importantly -- how to make them work. The Penguins hired the well-travelled Johnston to replace Dan Bylsma on Wednesday, charging the hockey lifer with creating the right system for stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to thrive in both the regular season and beyond. Considering the talent at his disposal, the 57-year-old Johnston likes his chances. After spending the last six years with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League preaching an uptempo attack, Johnston welcomes the opportunity to work with one of the most explosive offences in the NHL. "The core group is exactly where I want it," Johnston said. Good, because theyre not going anywhere. Instead, its everything around Malkin and Crosby -- who earned his second Hart Trophy as the NHLs Most Valuable Player on Tuesday -- that is changing. Johnstons hiring ends a tumultuous six weeks in which the Penguins were bounced from the Eastern Conference semifinals by the New York Rangers after blowing a 3-1 lead, fired Bylsma and general manager Ray Shero, and brought in longtime Carolina Hurricanes executive Jim Rutherford to clean up the mess. Rutherford settled on Johnston after a lengthy interview process that included an ill-fated run at Willie Desjardins, who opted to take the vacant job in Vancouver. Regardless of the path taken, Rutherford is confident he ended up at the right destination. "I feel very strongly that weve got the right coach," Rutherford said. One whose success will depend on his ability to take Pittsburgh on extended playoff runs. Bylsma won more games than any coach in club history but was fired on June 6 after going just 4-5 in post-season series since leading the Penguins to the 2009 Stanley Cup title. Johnston understands the onus to win on a given night, but stressed the focus will be on preparing Pittsburgh for the challenges of hockey in May and June, not October or November. "The bottom-line expectation for me is that, from training camp through the first part of the season, everything we do is setting the table for the playoffs," Johnston said. "The score is relevant but its not as relevant as the habits that we are going to have to make us successful in the playoffs." Pittsburgh is Johnstons first NHL head coaching job, though he spent two previous stints as an assistant with Vancouver and the Los Angeles Kings. He said he has a bit to learn about the challenges of an 82-game NHL season, which is one of the reasons the Penguins also brought in Rick Tocchet to serve as Johnstons top assistant. Tocchet played 18 years in the NHL, including two seasons in Pittsburgh, where the four-time All-Star helped the Penguins win their second Stanley Cup championship in 1992. The 50-year-old Tocchet also spent more than a season as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2008-10. While Tocchet said that his old team has underachieved in recent springs, he doesnt see that as a stumbling block. "There are teams that wish they had (Pittsburghs) problems," Tocchet said. "The way Mike is going to coach this team, the way these guys play is high tempo. Its something guys are going to enjoy." Tocchet replaces Todd Reirden and Tony Granato, holdovers from Bylsmas staff who were let go on Wednesday. The Penguins retained goaltending coach Mike Bales and video co-ordinator Andy Saucier. Assistant coach Jacques Martin will also remain with the team in an undetermined capacity. Johnston is hardly a novice when it comes to dealing with pressure or highly skilled players. He was a part of Canadas coaching staff at the 1998 Winter Olympics, the first Games in which NHL players were allowed to compete. It led to nearly a decade as an assistant with Vancouver (1999-2006) and the Kings (2006-08) before he landed in Portland, where he spent six years helping young players navigate the choppy waters of professional life. The seas will be only more tumultuous in one of the NHLs most high-profile jobs. Johnston is OK with the pressure. With the 26-year-old Crosby and the 27-year-old Malkin in the midst of their primes, there are worst places to start. "This group wants to win," he said. "Theyve won the Stanley Cup, and I believe they want to do it again." Authentic Matt Grzelcyk Jersey . Stevenson scored the first three goals of the game in the first period for Regina (35-22-6), which has won eight of its last 10 games. Patrick DAmico added two for the Pats, Braden Christoffer had a single and Morgan Klimchuk chipped in a goal and four assists. Boston Bruins Winter Classic Jerseys .C. -- Marcus Paige and his North Carolina teammates have endured so many wild swings -- big wins, surprising losses, NCAA drama -- that no one can blame their Hall of Fame coach for wondering whats next. http://www.cheapbruinsjerseysauthentic.com/ . A criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court said his girlfriend told police they got into the argument early Thursday at his suburban Minneapolis home.WASHINGTON (1-4) at ARIZONA (3-1)Sunday, 4:25 p.m., ET, FoxOPENING LINE a€” Cardinals by 4RECORD VS. SPREAD a€” Washington 2-3, Arizona 2-2SERIES RECORD a€” Redskins lead 74-44-2LAST MEETING a€” Redskins beat Cardinals 22-21, Sept. 18, 2011.LAST WEEK a€” Redskins lost to Seahawks 27-17, Cardinals lost to Broncos 41-20AP PRO32 RANKING a€” Redskins No. 28, Cardinals No. 10REDSKINS OFFENSE a€” OVERALL (7), RUSH (21), PASS (5)REDSKINS Defence a€” OVERALL (10), RUSH (15), PASS (10)CARDINALS OFFENSE a€” OVERALL (29), RUSH (26), PASS (22)CARDINALS Defence a€” OVERALL (24), RUSH (5), PASS (31)STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES: Washington has lost 12 of past 13, beating only Jacksonville in that span. ... Redskins RB Alfred Morris has yet to rush for 100 yards in game this season. ... Washington QB Kirk Cousins 1-6 as starter, losing past six in row. ... Washington coach Jay Gruden interviewed for Cardinals head coaching job before Bruce Arians was hired. .... Gruden 0 for 5 in replay challenges. ... Redskins and Cardinals used to play twice a year as members of NFC East before Cardinals moved in 2002. ... Washington has eight-game winning streak against Arizona; Cardinals last win was Dec. 24, 20000. Adidas Boston Bruins Jerseys. ... Teams matchup scheduled for Sept. 16, 2001, was postponed due to 9-11 attacks. ... Washington WR DeSean Jacksons 19 touchdowns of at least 50 yards most of any player since he entered league in 2008. ... LB Ryan Kerrigan tied for most sacks in NFL this season at six. ... Arizona QB Carson Palmer, out since season opener with shoulder injury, took every snap last season. ... Cardinals QB Drew Stanton left Michigan State for NFL year before Redskins QB Kirk Cousins came to the school as freshman. ... Redskins only NFC team not to play at Arizonas University of Phoenix Stadium. ... Arizona LB Lorenzo Alexander set to play 100th career game, and its against former team. He played 92 games for Washington from 2007-2012, making Pro Bowl as special teams player final season there. ... When Arizona made cross-country trip on short week, as Redskins are doing this week, Cardinals beat New York Giants 25-14 in Week 2. ... Arizona 10-3 against teams outside NFC West since Arians took over last year. ... Cardinals have not thrown interception this season; Redskins have intercepted two passes.___Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL Jerseys NFL China Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap MLB Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys NFL Jerseys China Discount Soccer Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys China China NCAA Jerseys Cheap Cheap Nike Dolphins Jerseys Cheap Nike Patriots Jerseys Cheap Nike Jets Jerseys Cheap Nike Bengals Jerseys Cheap Nike Browns Jerseys Cheap Nike Steelers Jerseys Cheap Nike Texans Jerseys Cheap Nike Colts Jerseys Cheap Nike Jaguars Jerseys Cheap Nike Titans Jerseys Cheap Nike Broncos Jerseys ' ' '
|
Forum Statistiken
Das Forum hat 15387
Themen
und
15550
Beiträge.
Heute waren 0 Mitglieder Online: |
Forum Software ©Xobor.de | Forum erstellen |