Penguins/NHL
Penguins to meet with Boyle Camp
The Pittsburgh Penguins have established early contact with veteran defenseman Dan Boyle, team and league sources say.
There remains question whether there’s a fit financially but Penguins GM Jim Rutherford is in WIN-NOW mode, multiple agents and team officials tell me.
New head coach Mike Johnston who will be introduced this afternoon at 12:30 p.m., values puck moving defenseman and the Penguins expect to lose Matt Niskanen to free agency.
The hiring of Johnston is not good news for Rob Scuderi as Johnston’s system is very similar to Dan Bylsma and has a very strong emphasis on defensemen activating into the offense.
Here is Johnston in his own words:
Activate Your Defense into the Attack
• Encourage them to join and stay in the rush from the breakout… supporting the mid or wide lane up the ice.
• Often the net D will have an opportunity to move up ice before the low forward in defensive zone coverage.
• Make the attack an odd number by their blueline
• Responsibility is in the hands of the puckcarrier…don’t blame the defence for creating options
• Go after chips or dump in’s when they have the speed
