Pens' Bylsma Gets 3-Year Extension
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed head coach Dan Bylsma to a three-year extension Wednesday morning.
According to the Penguins' official website, the extension runs through the 2013-14 season.
Bylsma, 40, owns a record of 104-52-19 since taking over for Michel Therrien on Feb. 15, 2009.
With the team in tenth place in the Eastern Conference, Bylsma implemented a new system and the team responded with an 18-3-4 record down the stretch
The team earned the No. 4 seed in the playoffs and went on to defeat the Detroit Red Wings on the road, in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals to claim the third championship in franchise history.
In his first full season behind the bench, the Penguins posted a 47-28-7 and once again earned the No. 4 seed in the playoffs.
After dispatching Ottawa in the opening round, the Penguins fell in the second round to the Montreal Canadiens in a decisive seventh game.
This season has been one with some of the highest highs and lowest lows. The Penguins went on a 12-game winning streak from Nov. 17-Dec. 14 to rocket up the standings.
Shortly after the winning streak, the injuries began to pile up. Sidney Crosby hasn't played since Jan. 5 after suffering a concussion. To make matters worse, Evgeni Malkin suffered a season-ending knee injury on Feb. 4.
Despite injuries to Brooks Orpik, Paul Martin, Mark Letestu, Dustin Jeffrey, Mike Comrie, Arron Asham, Chris Kunitz and others, the Penguins are still fourth in the Eastern Conference.
Pittsburgh is hot on the heels of Atlantic Division foe Philadelphia for the division and conference lead.
Heading into Wednesday night's NHL action, Pittsburgh only trails the Flyers by two points. However, Philadelphia has two games in hand.
Bylsma began his coaching career as an assistant with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the AHL in 2004-05.
During the 2005-06 season, Bylsma made his NHL coaching debut with the New York Islanders, also as an assistant.
Bylsma took over as head coach of the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins during the 2008-09 season after serving two years as the team's assistant coach.
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