Back in late January, I asked Dave Molinari what qualified Mike Yeo as a power play coach. He said that it is hard to characterize a coach’s credentials because there was no definitive background that would qualify a person as a coach. I’ve searched through Mike Yeo’s background — a minor league low-scoring winger, 
and maybe there is no definitive background for coaching, but that doesn’t seem to be what you would want to be on the resume of your power play coach. The Penguins were underachieving and Ray Shero saw fit to fire Therrien. That turned out to be a great decision. It was puzzling to me at the time that the part of the staff that the Penguins kept was the man responsible for running the power play, when in fact, power play production was a major part of the reason that the Pens were not playing up to par. If the team needed a jump start of some type that might come from a new coach, the power play could have used one as well. That didn’t happen and the Penguins are stuck with Mike Yeo. The power play is now an alarming one for twenty-four. It didn’t kill the Penguins against the Flyers, but it could cut their playoff run short if they don’t get it straightened out against Washington. At least the Flyers were a good penalty-killing team. The Capitals are not.
and maybe there is no definitive background for coaching, but that doesn’t seem to be what you would want to be on the resume of your power play coach. The Penguins were underachieving and Ray Shero saw fit to fire Therrien. That turned out to be a great decision. It was puzzling to me at the time that the part of the staff that the Penguins kept was the man responsible for running the power play, when in fact, power play production was a major part of the reason that the Pens were not playing up to par. If the team needed a jump start of some type that might come from a new coach, the power play could have used one as well. That didn’t happen and the Penguins are stuck with Mike Yeo. The power play is now an alarming one for twenty-four. It didn’t kill the Penguins against the Flyers, but it could cut their playoff run short if they don’t get it straightened out against Washington. At least the Flyers were a good penalty-killing team. The Capitals are not. Let’s look at the personnel that are available to Coach Yeo. Gonchar is one of the best point men in the league. He is very adept at keeping the puck in the zone. He has a good, hard, low slap shot, and is very smart with the puck. Letang has great speed, good lateral movement, and also possesses a powerful slap shot. This gives the Penguins two very solid point men. Malkin is tremendous along the halfwall. He can slide in and shoot one-timers from the slot, and he is very strong on the puck. Guerin and Sykora can be interchanged in the slot – both have quick releases and strong wrist shots. They have been powerplay productive their entire careers. Crosby is as good a play-maker as there is in the game, especially from behind the goal. The elements of a great power play are all in the toolbox for Yeo to use. For some reason the power play has been sub-par for most of the season and lately it has been a disaster. Yeo can’t be fired now, so he needs to change the Penguins’ approach and attitude on the power play. If Bylsma could do it for the whole team, Yeo needs to finish the job with our top guns. IF he can, the Penguins will be in the conference finals.
That’s the view from E-11.
I think the Penguins need to get to the net more on the power play. Shoot the puck and battle for it in front of Varlamov. Shake the kid up, your not going to score score goals on Ivan Drago up high and from a distance, he`s a big boy in that net. It wouldn`t hurt to quit being so staionary with the puck also. Guerin and Staal at the net, if the first unit isn`t successful getting the puck established in Washington`s end, then get them off and get the second unit going. Attack, Attack, Attack, 60 minutes, baby! LET`S GO PENS!
Tom Barrasso ‘learned’ Dave Molanari more than he ever wanted to know about a power play works!
MS forecheck – the power play ran at 17.2% during this season while mike yeo has been running it. last year, yes he did have it going at 20.4%, but the year before he came, it was at 20.3%, he has players on his powerplay that any coach would dream of and he has fallen short.
The powerplay is the worse that it’s been since the eighties.
For the playoffs the powerplay is at 10.8 percent and six of the teams that have been eliminated already have scored at a higher percentage. Yeo should be given defensive responsibilities and let someone else take over.
The only reason we are saying he isn’t the best, is that the PP sucks.
You have to find fault somewhere.
GO PENZ!
I hope you don’t mind me presenting a different view on the PP since I get a little PO’d at some of you penguinpoopers attempting to find a scapegoat.
First, I’d like to mention that I heard that the PP duties have been split and that it’s not all Mike Yeo. We know it’s not working so Bylsma should be involved.
Second, what makes you think Dave Molanari is a PP expert or a coaching expert? His opinion isn’t any more valuable than any other reporter.
Third, didn’t Mike Yeo coach the PP last season when it was performing at over 20%?
Fourth, in January Therrien was the coach and there was no Gonchar and Whitney seemed to be hurt.
Fifth, if you believe Yeo should have been fired then you should be addressing Shero for not firing Yeo.
Sixth, many (here) have questioned Sykora playing, let alone on the PP. All these players you mentioned but not much about Kunitz. Kunitz had more PP time than Guerin and Staal had almost as much as Sykora. Six shots on those PP’s and Gonchar had 3 and Letang had 2. Where were the shots from the forwards? Do you think Yeo’s plan was to have the forwards not shoot?
Seventh, Blysma is the head coach if he thinks Yeo is the best coach for the PP it doesn’t matter what you, Molanari, or any other fan says. I would like to believe that Blysma is putting the best he has at solving the problem. If he thinks Mike Yeo is the best who are any of you to say he isn’t. The scheme of the PP is thought out and presented to the players. After that it all up to the players to perform.
Will they? I hope so. If they do step it up a notch will you comment on how good Mike Yeo is . . . or comment more on how great the players are?
I like the different opinions here and hope you understand I’m just presenting mine –
Go Pens!