from Bob McKenzie of TSN,

Historically, Rutherford is not a GM who is quick to fire coaches. Earlier this season, when Johnston was under siege, Rutherford dismissed the notion of a coaching change. If at all possible, he likes to hang in with his coaches.

It's believed he would much rather make a trade — for either a puck-moving defenceman or a skilled winger to play alongside Sidney Crosby, or maybe both — but those aren't easy deals to make for a Penguin franchise in a salary cap crunch that has already used some of its currency (draft picks and younger players) to acquire immediate help.

While a trade is almost always the preferred course of action in these situations, we'd be foolish to think a coaching change isn't on the table, especially if the losing continues and/or the Penguins continue to sit below the wild card playoff line.

I think it's probably safe to say the Pens may not be the easiest team in the world to coach. Johnston may not be the easiest coach to replace in mid-season either, if it comes to that.

Randy Carlyle is available, but I'm guessing if Phil Kessel gets a vote, well...

Guy Boucher is also available, but if Sidney Crosby's former junior coach was hired, well...

more