Johnston named new Pens coach
The Pittsburgh Penguins hired the well-travelled Mike Johnston to replace Dan Bylsma Wednesday, charging the hockey lifer with creating the right system for stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to thrive in both the regular season and beyond. The 57-year-old Johnston spent the last six years with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League preaching an uptempo attack and welcomes the opportunity to work with one of the most explosive offences in the NHL. “The core group is exactly where I want it.”