Penguins Update.

Penguins fire Olczyk, promote former Canadiens coach Therrien

Eddie Olczyk, expected to win immediately after being given a much more accomplished team to coach, was fired Thursday as the coach of the fast-fading Pittsburgh Penguins and replaced by former Montreal Canadiens coach Michel Therrien.

Olczyk, a former team broadcaster and player who had no coaching experience at any level before being hired in 2003, was let go following a run of eight losses in nine games that dropped the Penguins' record to an Eastern Conference-worst 8-17-6.

Only St. Louis (6-17-4) has fewer wins in the NHL, and general manager Craig Patrick decided to fire Olczyk after a dismally played 3-0 loss to the Blues on Tuesday night in which the Penguins did little to support an excellent game by goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury.

Olczyk, 39, is the first NHL coach to be fired since the league resumed play following a one-season labor impasse and the fourth Penguins coach to lose his job in six seasons, joining Kevin Constantine, the late Ivan Hlinka and Rick Kehoe.

Therrien, who coached the Penguins' Wilkes-Barre/Scranton farm club to a 21-1-2-1 record that represents the best start in AHL history, was to run the team's practice Thursday and coach his first NHL game since the 2002-03 season Friday night against Buffalo. He was 77-77-13-13 as Montreal's coach from 2000-03.

The 42-year-old Therrien expected to bring a much more disciplined approach to a team that has been criticized for its lazy work habits and inability to stick to a system. He emphasizes controlling the puck and creating turnovers in the transition game. (Thanks to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review for the heads up.)