Just one year after he was named the NHL’s GM of the year, the Pittsburgh Penguins have fired general manager Ray Shero. The team also announced that the future of head coach Dan Bylsma future will be decided by the new GM.
Shero and Bylsma led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup in 2009, but a series of repeated playoff failures for a team with some of the best talent in hockey since then had brought their futures with the club into question.
This year, the Penguins took a 3 games to 1 lead on the New York Rangers in the second round of playoffs. However, the Rangers would win the next three games to eliminate Pittsburgh and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Penguins have won just four playoff series in five years since their Stanley Cup win.
Last season, Ray Shero won the NHL GM of the year after trade deadline deals to acquire Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow, and Douglas Murray to strengthen the Penguins for the playoffs. However the team would lose in four games to the Boston Bruins.
Team co-owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle made the announcement in a press conference on Friday. They said it was time to take the franchise in a new direction after the team’s latest playoff disappointment. The search for a new general manager will begin immediately.
Assistant general manager Jason Botterill will serve as general manager on an interim basis while the team searches for Shero’s replacement.
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