Dan Bylsma's seat is getting warmer or at least is should be

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma's seat is getting warmer, or at least it should be. The Penguins had another less-than stellar performance at home in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders Tuesday night. The Pens continued their sloppy play by turning the puck over and over again, leading to odd man breaks, breakaways, and great scoring opportunities for their opponent. The Pens had 11 giveaways, the Islanders had two. Unacceptable.


What is also unacceptable is the Pens power-play which is now 5-22 on the season. Unacceptable.
The Pens have also scored just EIGHT even strength goals this year in six games. Unacceptable.
The lack of offensive production by this team is just frustrating given the talent that it possesses. Then counter in the fact that the team can't stop turning the puck over, and the defensive zone presence has been atrocious.

I know there was no preseason and a very short training camp, but this team looks lost in most aspects. The coach is to blame for these things. When a team doesn't perform the simple fundamental aspects of the game, the coaching situation has to be looked at and addressed.

Last year Byslma coached a terribly in the playoff loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. He failed to make any key adjustments and allowed his team to be outplayed, out coached, and simply dominated by their arch rivals.

Of course Bylsma isn't on the ice playing, but the Pens have played this way for most of this early season. And yes, it's very early, but this is a shortened season and everyone is going to be under a microscope. Hockey coaches get fired faster than in all of the other sports, it's just the nature of things. I'm not saying Bylsma should be fired right this very second, but I do think that option should be considered if this lack-luster style of hockey continues.

You can play a number of players, most of the defensemen, Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Marc-Andre Fleury, but you're not going to get rid of most of them. It's much easier to replace the head coach  than a bunch of franchise caliber players.

Since winning the cup in the 2008-2009 season the Pens have won 1 playoff series. Now they sit 3-3 in six games and look nothing like the Stanley Cup favorite they were projected to be. If the Pens continue to lose games and play mediocre hockey, or if they fail to go far in the playoffs, I think the Pens will need to find a new coach. I know that it will be hard for the franchise and the team to part ways because of how well Bylsma is liked, but it's a business, and sometimes a harsh one.