Cook: Other GMs snub Shero in voting
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I called Ray Shero on Thursday to ask him what he did to tick off the NHL's other general managers. They are the primary voters for the general manager of the year award. Shero isn't one of the three finalists, who were announced Wednesday.
Of course, Shero immediately turned the conversation to Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. He said if I wanted to push someone for an award, I should push Bylsma for the Jack Adams Coach of the Year Award. "What he's done is much more symbolic of our year than anything else," Shero said.
I can't argue the point.
Bylsma has been absolutely terrific.
But so has Shero.
Let's review as the Penguins are just one win against the Tampa Bay Lightning from advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs without stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin:
• James Neal came in a Shero trade in February. He scored the winning goal against the Lightning in double overtime in Game 4 Wednesday night. "A blast from the side boards, top shelf," Shero said. "Not many of our guys can do that."
• Alex Kovalev came in another Shero trade in February. He scored the winning goal against Tampa Bay in Game 1. "He's got good hands, can still make plays and brings experience," Shero said.
• Arron Asham was a Shero signing as a free agent in August. He has three goals and an assist and is a plus-4 player against the Lightning. "Once the puck drops in the playoffs, he seems to be a step quicker," Shero said.
• Zybnek Michalek and Paul Martin were Shero signing as free agents in July. They are half of the best top-four defensemen in the NHL along with Brooks Orpik and Kris Letang. "That's how we win games -- with defense and timely scoring," Shero said. "Those guys have been invaluable for us."
• Chris Conner and Eric Tangradi are just a couple key parts of the depth Shero has built at the Penguins' Wilkes-Barre/Scranton minor league club. Conner has been a regular against the Lightning on a line with Pascal Dupuis and Max Talbot. Tangradi played for the first time in the series Wednesday night and contributed to the first goal by Tyler Kennedy on the power play by parking his sizable behind in front of Tampa Bay goaltender Dwayne Roloson. "I work with great people," Shero said. He mentioned assistant general manager Jason Botterill, assistant to the general manager Tom Fitzgerald, director of player personnel Dan MacKinnon and director of pro scouting Derek Clancey.
First Published April 22, 2011 12:00 am
