Editorial: Patrick Proves Who's Boss

Editorial: Patrick Proves Who's Boss
By Chris Foreman, Featured Writer

Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager, Craig Patrick, has succeeded in clearing a previously-cloudy answer to the question, "Who's the boss?"
Much like Wayne Gretzky's imitation of a GM in Los Angeles, Penguins captain Mario Lemieux seemed to be the puppeteer in Pittsburgh, organizing the signing this past off-season of golfing buddy, Dan Quinn.
Lemieux also complained about the state of the defense following their ousting at the claws of the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference finals, a catalyst for the Sergei Zubov-for-Kevin Hatcher swap.
It was, however, his campaigning for Coach Eddie Johnston which best-demonstrated Lemieux's prominence in Pittsburgh's acquisitions. Lemieux lobbied hard for Johnston's return to the club for the 1993-94 season after Scotty Bowman departed to the "Motor City" to guide the Red Wings.
The Penguins complied, hiring the man who drafted Lemieux first overall in the National Hockey League's 1984 Entry Draft.
Despite Lemieux's influence, Patrick elucidated any misunderstanding involving his star center's supposed orchestration by firing Johnston March 3 (for your information, the Penguins released Quinn earlier in the season). The move came on the heels of a 1-8-0 Penguins' mark since Feb. 8, the day ex-bench jockey Bowman defeated the team in overtime for his 1,000th career coaching victory.
Pittsburgh, in the interim, anyway, is in the hands of Patrick, who returns to ice level for his second stint coaching the team. An assistant for the "Miracle on Ice" United States gold medal-winning Olympic hockey triumph in 1980, Patrick was behind the bench in 1989-90 as he took over for Gene Ubriaco, who he fired.
To many, Eddie Johnston resembled Grandpa Munster in appearance. Converse to the best interest of the team, his techniques also resembled those of a grandfather's. He appeased his players, allowing them to do whatever they wished, rather than impersonating a more disciplinarian portrayal of a father figure.
Prevailing thought widely accepted that Johnston's "player's coach" method absolutely could not exist in any other city. He compiled a 153-98-25 in his second go-around (31-26-5 this year), but his practices were lenient to the point of accommodating the players' desires. Severe injuries and Lemieux's status are exceptions, however, Johnston failed to challenge his players and prepare them for each game.
It has long been my opinion that the most vital responsibility of a coach is to motivate the players. Hockey is not an "x's and "o's" sport. Nor is there an opportunity to match up a righty versus lefty situation as in baseball, which statistics and tendencies determine.
The coach's chores involve installing a system, which Pittsburgh basically lacked, and to inspire and instill confidence in your team. In the past month, the Penguins looked just as intimidated as they were uninterested.
Pittsburgh played a wide-open brand, which best-adapted to the team's offensive strength, but never seemed to follow-through with Johnston's teachings. Defense is the equivalent of the plague to Pittsburgh, as they wanted nothing to do with it. When they had a lead, they played to extend it, rather than to secure it.
Does that sound like the preachings of a coach? Unlikely. They refused to listen to Johnston, who faltered to punish his pupils for their rebelliousness.
The players do deserve fault, but how much of their shortcomings are related to the reality that Johnston declined to penalize them when they didn't perform their job? I feel they should aim substantial blame at the former Hartford GM.
Consider also the team's reluctance to shoot on the power play despite their coach's constant yelping, much like the fans', to the tune of "Shoot the puck." Yes, I say tune because the saying is immortalized in a song.
How does it reflect upon your ability if you're whining about your team not shooting the puck --- again, and again? Where is the coach's control over the team? If they aren't achieving your standards, should that require a change?
Johnston did audition Hatcher in front of the net, thereby removing his biggest threat from the blue line, but had to scrap that idea when his six-foot-four defenseman injured his neck. He briefly tried Dave Roche and Joe Dziedzic, as well as the recently-obtained Garry Valk, however, never maintained a state of consistency.
In fact, consistency survived for about as long as a ding-dong stays on Rush Limbaugh's plate. Johnston tinkered with lines like coherence was going out of style. Lemieux's wings were a revolving door until he combined him with his two other top players, Ron Francis and Jaromir Jagr.
The move stimulated Lemieux's resurgence, but left the rest of the roster is disarray. Second-line center Petr Nedved, who may be a more efficient left wing, struggled at times, flanked by wingers ranging from Andreas Johansson to Greg Johnson to Joe Mullen to Tomas Sandstrom to Alek Stojanov. Name a Penguin and it's almost a certainty that he spent a few games on a unit with Nedved.
Such constant movement may have damaged Sandstrom, as well. Sandstrom clicked with Lemieux over the past few years, but wasn't given a chance to rekindle their stable on-ice relationship. Pittsburgh dealt him to Detroit for Greg Johnson in January.
Johnston also managed to ruin a good thing in rookie goaltender Patrick Lalime. After Ken Wregget sustained a pulled left hamstring, Lalime stepped in and lit the league on fire, started 18 of the subsequent 19 games. Keep in mind that Lalime is a 22-year-old, first-year netminder, playing behind a porous defense and an offensive-minded team. Lalime's mechanics have broken down since his 14-0-2 start, and he's lost faith in himself, appearing both physically and mentally drained.
It all adds up to Johnston's stature as the most-overpaid babysitter ever. He fell asleep at the controls and couldn't steer the bandwagon back on track.
Patrick, who of late was expected to drop the bomb on a trade, put his foot down and could be the stabilizing presence they need. For nearly two weeks, Patrick's dual role figures to strike fear into players' hearts.
They now recognize the urgency of the situation, and realize that underachieving could lead to a trade. I generally dislike the double duty of a coach/GM, however, it should work to the Penguins' favor.
Patrick has everyone's attention now, a sentiment which should scare the hockey world.