The process took a while for new Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford, but he has finally settled on a new head coach for the organization.
As speculated that man is Mike Johnston.
Many feel that Rutherford did just settle on Johnston as a coach but plenty of reports would suggest that he was one of the Penguins initial candidates before the job was thought to go to Willie Desjardins before he spurned the Pens to take the head coaching job with Vancouver.
Johnston was also rumored to be Vancouver’s Plan B had they not hired Desjardins.
Johnston was previously the head coach of the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, which has worried some Penguins fans about why Rutherford is hiring a juniors coach to lead the Penguins.
He met with Rutherford on Tuesday in Philadelphia and it is believed the two sides immediately started working on a contract.
In his five seasons behind the bench at Portland, Johnston’s teams played an an up-tempo, attacking and skilled game which should translate well to the current Penguins roster.
It is reported that Johnston has signed a three-year deal as he will succeed Dan Bylsma, who was fired June 6.
Johnston coached one of the Penguins’ top prospects, defenseman Derrick Pouliot, with the Winterhawks.
He led the Winterhawks to a 54-13-2-3 record to run away with the U.S. Division in the regular season this year.
Prior to his five seasons in Portland, Johnston previously served as an associate coach with the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks.
At the end of the day it may have taken a while, but the Penguins finally appear to have their man.
Photo Credit: Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images
