Penguins Update: The Return of Disco Dan?
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 stretch run and the 2009 Stanley Cup. In the process becoming a cult hero and Steel City legend.
Knowledgeable and personable and preaching an aggressive, play-on-your-toes style, the bespectacled bench boss seemed the perfect choice to guide the high-octane Pens.
Both team and coach enjoyed plenty of success during his reign, especially during the regular season. Bylsma was the fastest coach in NHL history to reach 250 wins. Under his watch, the ‘12-13 team recorded the first perfect month in league history (a 15-0 March).