Pittsburgh Penguins reportedly to fire coach Dan Bylsma; GM Ray Shero

As soon as the clock hit triple zeroes and the Pittsburgh Penguins were sent packing after their second-round loss to the New York Rangers, you knew changes were coming.

Those changes are coming quickly as a complete management overhaul is happening as both head coach Dan Bylsma and general manager Ray Shero have been fired.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie was the first to break the news and the Penguins are set to make a formal announcement at an 11:30 press conference.

After another disappointing playoff exit, someone has to pay the price and Bylsma and Shero are both at the top of the chopping block.

June 22, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero announces the Penguins first round draft choice in the 2012 NHL Draft at CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The moves come just three days after the Penguins were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in Game 7 against the New York Rangers. The Penguins blew a 3-1 series lead against New York, and for the fifth season in a row were bounced from the playoffs despite one of the league’s best regular season records.

Speculation surfaced that Bylsma lost the respect of stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin ,and given the Pens recent playoff failures, it comes as no surprise that he is on his way out.

Bylsma is the Pens winningest coach and led the Penguins to a franchise record three consecutive 100-point regular-season finishes from 09-10 to 11-12.

However this team was built to win championships and they failed in that department.

As for Shero, at the end of the day he will be perceived as a guy who didn’t surround his stars with enough talent to win.

During the past few days his draft resume has come into question as he never was able to draft any talented goal scoring wingers.

However I can’t recall a front office employee falling so far out of favor amongst a fan base in such a short time period.

At last year’s trade deadline when he acquired the likes of Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow, Jussi Jokinen and Douglas Murray, Shero could do no wrong among Penguins fans.

In just a little over a calendar year later, Pens fans are singing a much different tune about Shero.

The Pens will likely have to act quickly and find a GM as the 2014 NHL Draft is a mere six weeks away.

Penguins assistant GM Jason Botterill likely to take over on an interim basis.

If that is the case Botterill will have his hands full in the short term as not only is the draft on the horizon, but player moves will need to be made as well as 17 current Penguins are set to either become restricted or unrestricted free agents this summer.

McKenzie reports that Shero likely to immediately become frontrunner for GM job in Washington.

Needless to say it won’t be long before both Bylsma and Shero find employment elsewhere as I don’t expect them to be on the unemployment line very long.