Hackel: Therrien pushing Penguins away

Stu Hackel, writing with the New York Times, agrees with me about Michel Therrien and why so many Penguins left Pittsburgh. Though admittedly Hackel points to some different reasons, more than just the player - coach relationship.

And there’s one more factor in Hossa’s decision that no one talks about: That would be Penguins coach Michel Therrien. He was badly overmatched against Mike Babcock in the final and even though, like many of his inexperienced players, he probably learned a lot by going four rounds this spring, the whispers persist that a number of Pens who have fled were not members of his fan club. Nor are some who remain.

Therrien is not the emotional train wreck he was when he coached Montreal, but how far he’s come since then and how adroit he is at bench management remains debatable. Scratching Roberts at the outset of the final reveals some questionable judgment at work.

Perhaps it’s unrelated, perhaps not, but that’s why we’re not entirely surprised to read that talks on a contract extension for Therrien have been put on hold.