Pittsburgh Penguins' head coach Dan Bylsma continues learning at 2011 RDO Camp –NHL News Update
What could be better other than having Pittsburgh Penguins' head coach, Dan Bylsma, leading a team of prospects who are also participating in the 2011 National Hockey League's (NHL) Research, Development and Orientation camp?
A veteran coach of Bylsma’s standards should be out and enjoying his vacation at the moment after leading one of the top NHL teams into the postseason, but to this day, he continues working and training young prospects who aspire of making the major league
one day.
His teams’ early exit from the playoffs could be cited as the reason to as why Bylsma continues to work and not take time off, but according to him, that is all part of the game and taking too much time off is always boring.
"When you don't go as far in the playoffs as you might like or you have in the past, you're not as protective of your downtime", Bylsma said. "This summer, downtime was a little bit too long for my taste and to give up some days in August is more than acceptable".
Not having been too well of a profession player in the NHL and participating in nine disappointing major league seasons, Bylsma turned out to be much better behind the benches instead of on the ice. He easily led his team to the playoffs even though Pittsburgh
was missing their two top players, Evgeni Malkin, and captain, Sidney Crosby.
Nevertheless, having a chance to build up the team USA hockey team is an honour in its own sense for Bylsma, who dreamed of it during his playing years but was unable to make the cut.
"For me, there is a great deal of passion and energy and I get jacked up about going to Lake Placid and being with those kids", Bylsma said. "And it was the first time for me to wear the USA Hockey on my jacket. I took it home and I'll be wearing it proudly".
With many things happening simultaneously as player training, rule changing, tweaks and experiments, Bylsma had his hands full during the regular season and he still does during the offseason.
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