PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Penguins have hired Mike Johnston as the team’s new head coach.
Johnston replaces Dan Bylsma, who was fired on June 6.
The 57-year-old Johnston, introduced at a Wednesday news conference, spent the past six years with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League. He previously served as an NHL associate head coach with the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks.
Johnson’s hiring ends an eventful start to the offseason for the Penguins, who won the Metropolitan Division but were knocked out of the Eastern Conference semifinals by the New York Rangers after leading 3-1.
Pittsburgh fired general manager Ray Shero last month and replaced him with former Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford.
The Penguins also hired 18-year NHL veteran Rich Tocchet as Johnston’s top assistant and released Tony Granato and Todd Reirden.
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