The Pittsburgh Penguins are making changes after another difficult loss in the postseason.
On Wednesday, Jim Rutherford announced that assistant coaches Sergei Gonchar, Jacques Martin, and Mark Recchi will not have their contracts renewed for next season.
The Penguins will not renew the contracts of assistant coaches Sergei Gonchar, Jacques Martin, and Mark Recchi.
Details: https://t.co/ThlvwkT4yG pic.twitter.com/Lu68YHmZvY
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 12, 2020
“We are in the process of conducting a review of our organization because we have underperformed in the playoffs the last few years,” Rutherford said in a release. “We just thought we needed to change the dynamic of our coaching staff. We have very high standards here in Pittsburgh, and we want to continue competing for Stanley Cups. The message to our fans is that ‘We are not rebuilding, we’re re-tooling.'”
This comes a day after Rutherford said that “changes need to be made” to the organization. Rutherford plans to move forward with the Penguins’ core.
“I plan to move forward with the core,” Rutherford said. “These are good players. They still have good hockey left in them. I always have to say, if some amazing trade comes along that makes sense for the Penguins now and in the future, you have to look at it. But I will not be actively trying to trade our core players.”
Rutherford did have criticism for some of the team’s depth pieces.
GMJR: “I know everybody picks on Jack and they have for a long time, but I think, in that pairing, Justin Schultz had a lot more to give.”
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) August 11, 2020
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On the 3rd pair, Rutherford took a shot at the play of Justin Schultz while basically saying Jack Johnson is picked on.
Interpretation: Rutherford is doubling down on Johnson because it was his worst move and it is hurting the team. He refuses to admit he screwed up.— Eric Bowser (@EricBowser412) August 11, 2020
It also sounds like one of the team’s goalies will not be back next season.
Jim Rutherford on Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry: "It's going to be difficult to keep both. Everybody understands that given the cap."
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 11, 2020
The Pittsburgh Penguins will not renew the contracts of assistant coaches Sergei Gonchar, Jacques Martin and Mark Recchi, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford.
“We want to thank Sergei, Jacques and Mark for their many contributions to the Penguins over the years, and wish them well in their future endeavors,” Rutherford said.
The search for new assistants to work under head coach Mike Sullivan will begin immediately.
The contracts of Gonchar, Martin, and Recchi expired at the end of June but were temporarily extended for the playoffs.
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