Jim Johnson always has enjoyed working with young hockey players, so it's perfectly logical that he's intrigued by the idea of having a part in the Penguins' rebuilding process.
He hasn't informed General Manager Craig Patrick of his interest in securing a coaching job yet. It seems Johnson has been too busy coaching. Coaching coaches, to be precise.
Johnson, whose 13-year career as an NHL defenseman began when he signed with the Penguins as a free agent in 1985, is the founder of a company, Flexxcoach, dedicated to teaching coaches how best to instruct young players.
"I'm pretty passionate about what I'm doing," Johnston said last night from his home in Scottsdale, Ariz. "There are parents out there who have the time and passion it takes but don't have the skills necessary to coach kids.
"I'm very alarmed at the rate of kids who drop out of sports by the time they're 13 years old. What do those kids do when they drop out of sports at age 13? My passion is hockey and developing kids to make them better players, but also to make them better people."
Johnson's partners in the company include Mike Sullivan, coach of the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League, and St. Louis Blues goaltending coach Keith Allain. Johnson said Detroit assistant coach Barry Smith is on the company's advisory board and that Jay Caufield, his former teammate with the Penguins, has been involved with the company here.
Johnson laughed and said, "I think these guys would hang me if I left running the business" because of landing a job with the Penguins, but added, "I'd definitely be intrigued" by a coaching job in the organization. He also said he plans to alert Patrick to his interest, perhaps as early as today.
After complating his playing career, which included stints with Minnesota/Dallas, Washington and Phoenix, Johnson served as color analyst on Coyotes' radio broadcasts and as an advisor to former Phoenix general manager Bobby Smith.
When his ties to the NHL were severed after the 2001-02 season, Johnson founded Flexxcoach which, while it focuses solely on hockey for now, plans to branch out in the near future. Johnson said he is scheduled to meet with Cal Ripken next week to discuss a baseball version of the program.
The company's Web site, www.flexxcoach.com, Johnson said, includes a practice planner featuring 240 age-specific drills, with full descriptions and live animation.
"It shows dads how to go out and teach fundamental skills in each performance area," Johnson said.
Which is pretty much what members of the Penguins' next coaching staff will be expected to do, too.
Dave Molinari can be reached at 412-263-1144.
Coaching job intriguing to ex-Penguin 
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