Penguins Name Hlinka Coach

Archived from 2000-01 season.

NHL teams

The Pittsburgh Penguins named Ivan Hlinka head coach. Hlinka is the former Olympic coach of the Czech Republic.

The Penguins are the most European team in the NHL, but Hlinka says he won't rely entirely on finesse play.

"If you watch our series against the Flyers, if we have one or two more physical players, that series goes to us," Hlinka said.

Hlinka joined the Penguins as an assistant coach in February and it was widely anticipated that he would eventually replace Herb Brooks, who took the coaching job on an interim basis after replacing Kevin Constantine last year.

Penguins general manager Craig Patrick said that the team's many Europeans was not the only reason in hiring Hlinka.

"That was definitely a consideration but when you look at Ivan's credentials, as a coach ... he's a natural choice," Patrick said. "Ivan employs different systems. We're going to see different styles. At times, you're going to see more offensive flair. Naturally, we're always trying to get bigger and stronger and faster."


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