# Mike Johnston is the new Penguins coach

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-johnston-is-the-new-penguins-coach/691690>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [June 26, 2014, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-johnston-is-the-new-penguins-coach/691690 "2014-06-26T13:33:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-johnston-is-the-new-penguins-coach/691690/1 "2014-06-26T13:33:19Z")

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So the Pittsburgh Penguins have hired Mike Johnston as their new head coach. I was hoping they’d get Ulfie, but this might be better. He’s saying some good things, and it sounds to me like he’d be a good fit for them. The addition of Rick Tocchet should help their “grit” issues. We will see what happens. The Pens will have a great regular season, but the true test will come in the playoffs. I think anything less than the finals (or possibly the cup itself) will be considered a failure.

The next huge issue for them is their roster. They have a lot of money tied up in a very small group of players. Crosby, Malkin, and Letang and a few others have big contracts and no-trade clauses. Jussi Jokkinen and Matt Niskanen are almost certainly going to walk as the Penguins are going to have trouble coming up with enough to pay them. Which is a shame as Jussi looked great in the playoffs and I was hoping they’d find a way to keep him. I don’t think they’re going to have much money to make a splash in free agency. I think the Pens will pick up a mix of older veterans a little past their prime and newbies who’ve barely played.

I think they needed a change, but with their hands tied on the salary cap, I don’t think they’ll be able to get that far in the playoffs. They will as always, have a great regular season, and they’ll do better in the playoffs than they did the past few years, but I doubt they will make it to the finals. Of course I could be wrong and am hoping that I am. Maybe they just needed a change in coaching staff and a few more pieces to the puzzle to get back to the Stanley Cup.

Anyone else have any opinions on all this?

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**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2014, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mike-johnston-is-the-new-penguins-coach/691690/2 "2014-06-26T14:10:23Z")

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I didn’t know anything about Mike Johnston before. Reading up on him now, I’m impressed by his credentials. I think the Penguins will be a better team next year. Best of luck.