On this date in Penguins history: Mike Johnston named head coach
The “middle chapter” after Dan Bylsma and before Mike Sullivan.
There was a time, not that long ago, when many pundits and fans were questioning the legacies of Sidney Crosby and company, much like how some are doing these days with Connor McDavid. Sidebar: A win on Monday night in Game 7 (it is Monday afternoon at the time of writing) would place McDavid firmly alongside his idol in the annals of NHL lore with, perhaps, the greatest postseason comeback of all time.
Ten years ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins were treading water under Dan Bylsma. After a lone Stanley Cup win in 2009, nothing but playoff failure and unmet expectations came for this team that was supposed to turn into a dynastical force.
The old guard were officially relieved of their post.
General manager Ray Shero and head coach Dan Bylsma were out, having amassed a 51-24-7 regular season record during the 2013-14 season but blew a 3-1 series lead against the New York Rangers in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Newly named general manager Jim Rutherford took the reins on June 6, 2014.
On June 25, 2014, Rutherford hired then-Portland Winterhawks head coach Mike Johnston as the 21st coach in Pittsburgh Penguins history.
Notably, Johnston never had any NHL head coaching experience before the hiring, but Rutherford got his man, who was coming off an impressive 54-win season in the WHL.
During the 2014-15 season, the Penguins’ high point was a 22-6-4 record, but the team finished the season eighth in the Eastern Conference, barely earning a playoff berth. The Penguins would be eliminated by the New York Rangers in the postseason for a second consecutive year.
Johnston earned a bit of a longer leash the following year, given it was his first season as head coach, but the Penguins started the 2015-16 season with a 15-10-3 record.
Sensing underperformance, Johnston was fired by Rutherford on Dec 12, 2015, paving the way for Mike Sullivan and another midseason coaching change. Johnston would last just 538 days as the team’s bench boss.
The rest, as they say, is history.
What are your thoughts and recollections of the short-lived Mike Johnston era?