t is averaging six targets in his six

t is averaging six targets in his six

27.07.2018 09:00

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins have insisted during their extensive front office overhaul that the on-ice product doesnt need to change much for the franchise to return to the NHLs elite. Small tweaks, not big ones, are required. Mike Johnstons job is to figure out which ones to make and -- perhaps even more importantly -- how to make them work. The Penguins hired the well-travelled Johnston to replace Dan Bylsma on 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. Considering the talent at his disposal, the 57-year-old Johnston likes his chances. After spending the last six years with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League preaching an uptempo attack, Johnston welcomes the opportunity to work with one of the most explosive offences in the NHL. "The core group is exactly where I want it," Johnston said. Good, because theyre not going anywhere. Instead, its everything around Malkin and Crosby -- who earned his second Hart Trophy as the NHLs Most Valuable Player on Tuesday -- that is changing. Johnstons hiring ends a tumultuous six weeks in which the Penguins were bounced from the Eastern Conference semifinals by the New York Rangers after blowing a 3-1 lead, fired Bylsma and general manager Ray Shero, and brought in longtime Carolina Hurricanes executive Jim Rutherford to clean up the mess. Rutherford settled on Johnston after a lengthy interview process that included an ill-fated run at Willie Desjardins, who opted to take the vacant job in Vancouver. Regardless of the path taken, Rutherford is confident he ended up at the right destination. "I feel very strongly that weve got the right coach," Rutherford said. One whose success will depend on his ability to take Pittsburgh on extended playoff runs. Bylsma won more games than any coach in club history but was fired on June 6 after going just 4-5 in post-season series since leading the Penguins to the 2009 Stanley Cup title. Johnston understands the onus to win on a given night, but stressed the focus will be on preparing Pittsburgh for the challenges of hockey in May and June, not October or November. "The bottom-line expectation for me is that, from training camp through the first part of the season, everything we do is setting the table for the playoffs," Johnston said. "The score is relevant but its not as relevant as the habits that we are going to have to make us successful in the playoffs." Pittsburgh is Johnstons first NHL head coaching job, though he spent two previous stints as an assistant with Vancouver and the Los Angeles Kings. He said he has a bit to learn about the challenges of an 82-game NHL season, which is one of the reasons the Penguins also brought in Rick Tocchet to serve as Johnstons top assistant. Tocchet played 18 years in the NHL, including two seasons in Pittsburgh, where the four-time All-Star helped the Penguins win their second Stanley Cup championship in 1992. The 50-year-old Tocchet also spent more than a season as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2008-10. While Tocchet said that his old team has underachieved in recent springs, he doesnt see that as a stumbling block. "There are teams that wish they had (Pittsburghs) problems," Tocchet said. "The way Mike is going to coach this team, the way these guys play is high tempo. Its something guys are going to enjoy." Tocchet replaces Todd Reirden and Tony Granato, holdovers from Bylsmas staff who were let go on Wednesday. The Penguins retained goaltending coach Mike Bales and video co-ordinator Andy Saucier. Assistant coach Jacques Martin will also remain with the team in an undetermined capacity. Johnston is hardly a novice when it comes to dealing with pressure or highly skilled players. He was a part of Canadas coaching staff at the 1998 Winter Olympics, the first Games in which NHL players were allowed to compete. It led to nearly a decade as an assistant with Vancouver (1999-2006) and the Kings (2006-08) before he landed in Portland, where he spent six years helping young players navigate the choppy waters of professional life. The seas will be only more tumultuous in one of the NHLs most high-profile jobs. Johnston is OK with the pressure. With the 26-year-old Crosby and the 27-year-old Malkin in the midst of their primes, there are worst places to start. "This group wants to win," he said. "Theyve won the Stanley Cup, and I believe they want to do it again." Darius Leonard Jersey . His chance at winning a Stanley Cup in Philadelphia is over. Same with Jeff Carter. And Brian Boucher. Throw in Ville Leino and Dan Carcillo. Marshall Faulk Colts Jersey . Cory Batey and Brandon Vandenburg were each convicted on four charges of aggravated rape, one of attempted aggravated rape and two for aggravated sexual battery. Vandenburg was also found guilty of tampering with evidence as well as an unlawful photography charge. http://www.authenticfootballshopcolts.co...son-jersey.html. - The Detroit Lions have placed tight end Brandon Pettigrew on injured reserve, ending his season. Eric Ebron Colts Jersey . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Tyquan Lewis Colts Jersey . With timely hitting and good pitching, the Marlins are one win away from sweeping the slumping Houston Astros.Each week, we will run down the top waiver wire pickups with a focus on the coming week and rest of the season. QUARTERBACKS Nick Foles (at Green Bay)Last week: 22/28, 406 yards, 7 TDsFoles, a now record-tying NFL QB thanks to his seven touchdown performance against the Oakland Raiders in Week 9, is owned by only a quarter of teams. Thats a lot of needy teams that missed out on his 40+ point performance. The former third-rounder has been impressive all year long in spot duty for the injured Michael Vick and is all but guaranteed to be the Eagles starter the rest of the year. Hes not going to throw seven touchdowns every week but he could be a borderline QB1, something almost impossible to find on the waiver wire this late in the season. EJ Manuel (at Pittsburgh)Last week: InjuredManuel was given the green light to return to action with the Bills on Monday and with that comes the green light to be picked up again by fantasy teams. Prior to Manuels knee injury, the rookie was averaging 13 points per game and, if his progression with a decent looking Bills offence continues throughout the year, hes worth adding, especially if you need a bye week fill-in over the next couple weeks. Case Keenum (at Cardinals)Last week: 20/34, 350 yards, 3 TDsKeenum was outstanding in his debut for the Texans and gave fans in Houston, after too much of Matt Schaub in recent years, hope for the future. The young, undrafted free agent doesnt appear to be afraid of taking chances and with a premier receiver like Andre Johnson on the other end of his passes, that could be a good thing. Keenum is a gunslinger and, while I wouldnt be surprised to see his interception totals spike in coming weeks, he should be always be good for healthy yardage totals. Jason Campbell (Bye)Last week: 23/35, 262 yards, 3 TDsAfter years of having nothing go right in Cleveland, nothing can seemingly go wrong for the Browns this year. Its still likely not enough to get the Browns in the playoffs, but their players can benefit fantasy teams with some big weeks. Jason Campbell, the third quarterback to start a game for Cleveland, had a huge game against the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. The veteran hurt his ribs in Week 9 but should be fine when the Browns return from their bye week against the Cincinnati Bengals. If youve got room on your bench, Campbell could be worth an add. Others: Kellen Clemons (at Colts), Christian Ponder (vs Redskins) RUNNING BACKS Andre Brown (vs Raiders)Last week: InjuredBrown confirmed on Monday that hell be returning from the IR designated to return to make his season debut in Week 10, and with it the Giants hope their running back nightmare of 2013 is over. While its unlikely Brown will be the solution to all the Giants rushing problems, he could be for a needy fantasy team. Its hard to tell how effective Brown will be but he should get the most touches out of New Yorks backfield and that alone is worth a couple FAAB dollars. Donald Brown (vs Rams)Last week: 6 carries, 49 yardsBrown is just the second most owned running back in the Colts backfield (by a longshot behind Trentt Richardson) but he shouldnt be.ddddddddddddSince Richardsons acquisition Brown has proven to be the more effective back. While the two are likely looking at a timeshare in the backfield the rest of the way, Brown is the third-down back, lending to more passing opportunities. The former first-rounder was held to just six carries and 49 yards on Sunday Night but that was more because Indy was engaged in an aerial battle with the Texans; his carries should increase in coming weeks. Rashad Jennings (at Giants)Last week: 15 carries, 102 yards, 7 catches, 74 yards, 1 TDFor the second time this year, and seemingly millionth time in his career, Darren McFadden left a game with an injury for the Raiders. Jennings stepped in and stepped up, accumulating 176 total yards in Oaklands blowout loss to the Eagles. If McFaddens injury keeps him out in Week 10, the Raiders will have no problem feeding Jennings the rock against the Raiders. The former Jaguars backup has been the teams best back even when McFadden is healthy. Ben Tate (at Cardinals)Last week: 22 carries, 81 yardsThis suggestion is contingent on Arian Fosters injury status for Week 10 but since we likely wont know that until waiver bids are due, err on the side of caution and look to grab Tate. What we do know is that if Tate gets the start for an injured Foster, hes done enough over the past couple seasons to prove hes a decent RB2 if given a starters workload. Others: Jonathan Stewart (at 49ers), Daniel Thomas (at Buccaneers) WIDE RECEIVERS Riley Cooper (at Packers)Last week: 5 catches, 139 yards, 3 TDsAfter his early season controversy, it seems Cooper and the Eagles can coexist. After weeks of putting up below average fantasy scores, Cooper exploded in the Eagles rout of the Raiders. Cooper wont score three TDs every week but if the chemistry he appeared to have with likely new full-time starter Nick Foles continues to manifest, hell be an intriguing WR3/flex option in Philadelphia. Marlon Brown (vs Bengals)Last week: 5 catches, 54 yards, 2 TDsThe undrafted free agent had a big Week 9 against the Browns, and looks to be working his way towards more targets in the Ravens offence. Brown is nothing more than a bye week fill-in at the moment – through nine weeks hes averaging only about five points per week but his nine Week 9 targets were a team high, suggesting Joe Flacco could look to the young receiver more in the second half of the season. Others: Kris Durham (at Bears), Nate Washington (vs Jaguars) TIGHT ENDS Tim Wright (vs Dolphins)Last week: 4 catches, 58 yards, 1 TDWright could be an interesting add at the tight end position. The undrafted free agent is averaging six targets in his six games this season and while that has translated to just an average of 32 yards per game, if he can find the end zone on a more consistent basis – like he did last week in the Bucs near upset of the Seahawks – hes worth a flyer. Wright could have some chemistry with Tampas rookie QB Mike Glennon which would certainly help his fantasy stock. Others: Zach Miller (at Falcons), Coby Fleener (vs Rams) Wholesale NFL T-shirts Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping NFL Jerseys Wholesale China NFL Gear Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys Cheap NFL Hoodies Camo China NFL Jerseys ' ' '


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