The Penguins entered last night’s NHL draft lottery with an infinitesimal 1.5 percent chance of winning the lottery and snaring a top-10 selection, which would’ve given them the option of keeping the pick. The hockey gods, who’ve shined so brightly on our Pens in the past, didn’t favor us this time around. We stayed put in the 14th slot while the Sharks won the lottery and the right to select standout Boston University forward and Hobey Baker winner Macklin Celebrini in the upcoming draft. The Sharks will get our pick as well. No sense in crying over spilled milk. What’s done is done. We as P ..read more

In the wake of the Penguins cutting ties with associate coach Todd Reirden yesterday, the majority of the team’s fan base appears to be rejoicing. Many are gloating over Reirden’s fate, labelling him a bum…or worse. For those who share that opinion of the now former Pens associate coach, I suggest you read Seth Rorabaugh’s outstanding article on the Tribune Review titled, “Penguins fire associate coach Todd Reirden.” Seth penetrates the shroud that sometimes separates public opinion from fact and provides an insightful and even touching behind-the-scenes look at a coach who took his duties ve ..read more

The Penguins have elected to “part ways” with associate coach Todd Reirden. A nice way of saying he was dismissed or axed, whichever you prefer. The announcement was made today by Pens POHO/GM Kyle Dubas. It was pretty much a given that the 52-year-old Reirden, whose contract expires at the end of the current season, would not be re-upped. In addition to coaching the problematic black-and-gold defense, Reirden was in charge of the power play, which ranked a woeful 30th in conversation rate (15.3%) and 28th in goals (40) while yielding 12 shorthanded goals…tied for worst in the league. In shor ..read more

With the NHL regular season squarely in the rear-view mirror and the Stanley Cup playoffs well under way, the off-season coaching carousel has begun to turn. Having fired their coaches, the Kraken and Sharks are seeking replacements. The Devils and Senators are in the market for new skippers as well. A name most familiar to Penguins fans has popped up among the potential candidates. Dan Bylsma. Or “Disco Dan,” if you prefer. Seems like it’s been ages since the upbeat Grand Haven, Michigan, native replaced Michel Therrien as a rookie pro coach and promptly led the Pens to a searing 18-3-4 stre ..read more

Apparently there was a rumor (since squashed) circulating through the hockey universe that Penguins coach Mike Sullivan might have an interest in joining old friend and Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald in New Jersey…and vice versa. A rumor that was promptly doused with a bucket of ice water by Kyle Dubas in a text to Rob Rossi of The Athletic. “There have been no requests or permissions granted,” stated the Pens’ GM. Darn. I, for one, would be perfectly amenable to Sullivan switching employers, in the process nulling and voiding the three-year extension he signed with us in August of 2022. My reasons ..read more

I confess, I was at least somewhat surprised to learn the Penguins have signed forward Sam Poulin to a two-year extension with an AAV of $775K. Not that 23-year-old native of Blainville, Quebec, didn’t merit an extended look. After stepping away from the game for most of the 2022-23 season to deal with personal issues, the former first-round pick and RFA-to-be enjoyed a strong season with the Baby Pens, tallying 16 goals and 31 points in 41 games to go with a sterling 18.4 shooting percentage. It’s just that the husky 208-pounder doesn’t appear to be a favorite of coach Mike Sullivan. During ..read more

In a development somewhat reminiscent of last spring’s executive house cleaning, the Penguins will not renew the contracts of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach J.D. Forrest and assistant Kevin Porter. The announcement came just two days after the Baby Pens were swept by arch-rival Lehigh Valley in the opening round of the AHL Calder Cup playoffs. Former Pens GM Ron Hextall and POHO Brian Burke experienced a similar swift fall of the ax head last April. After his team missed the playoffs last season, the 43-year-old Forrest led the resurgent Baby Pens to a 21-point leap and their best record si ..read more

I was thinking about the inexorable decline of our Penguins yesterday. Stewing over the fact that we’ve missed the playoffs two seasons running and haven’t won a playoff series since 2018. Practically a lifetime ago in sporting circles. Specifically, I wondered if this is the way of things for former Stanley Cup champions. The answer? A resounding YES. Not only is it common for former Cup winners to experience first-round flameouts (or worse), it’s the norm. After capturing back-to-back Cups in ’20 and ’21, the Lightning are tracking toward a second straight first-round exit after reaching th ..read more

I would guess that almost every person writing or commenting on any hockey website is an arm-chair GM at heart. I know I am. To that end, I think I am in the mood to resurrect a tradition I broke last season and resume giving unsolicited advice to a Penguins Management team who no doubt has no idea of my frustration with this team. After this past season, a season that saw Head Coach Mike Sullivan post the worst Win-Loss record since the Eddie Olczyk/Michel Therrien disaster of 2005-2006 when the team went 22-46-14, there is a lot of material here with which to work. I will not even attempt t ..read more

As I scanned the box score of last night’s Boston-Toronto playoff game I couldn’t help but notice a familiar trend. One I’ve written about on occasions too numerous to count during my time with PenguinPoop. The list of goal scorers tells the story. Trent Frederic, Jake DeBrusk and Brad Marchand for the Bruins. Matthew Knies and Tyler Bertuzzi for the Leafs. Not an Auston Matthews or David Pastrnák in the bunch. Same with the Oilers-Kings contest. Barely a peep from supernovas Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Two of the four goals in a losing cause for the Oil came from the stick of 22-year ..read more