One on one with �� Ed Olczyk Coach, Penguins - NHL; Pittsburgh Penguins - Interview

TSN: How has the transition been from broadcasting to the bench?

EO: Honestly, it was a process in the making for years now. It's something I envisioned a while ago. I have prepared myself. It's everything I thought it would be and more. It's also fun to give back. It's all about the opportunity to win and to give our team an opportunity to succeed. I respect Mario (Lemieux) and Craig (Patrick), and I am humbled and honored that they gave me this chance to be the head coach.

TSN: What has been the biggest challenge as a coach?

EO: So far, (there) have been a couple of things. The basics are instruction and designing drills. Finding different ways to say the same thing is not easy, and I lean on my staff for help there. Communication is a huge key. Everyone has to know what is expected, and it has to be black and white.

TSN: Does losing hurt more as a coach or as a player?

EO: It's the same. Everything is all about winning and losing. I guess it's a little harder so far as a coach because you're second-guessing yourself and saying, "What could I have done?" I try to teach our team and myself that if you think something is the right thing to do, just do it.

TSN: Recently, in a game between the Pens and Islanders, your team was getting waxed pretty good. You left your team in the locker room, and you stewed on the bench by yourself, obviously not happy. What was that all about?

EO: You saw that? I'll be honest. I said what I had to say. The Isles handed us our lunch. I just needed to gather my thoughts. I've learned a lot being by myself. I've tried to live by the theory of saying nothing if you don't have anything nice to say. I wasn't very happy with our play in that game. It wasn't pretty. I only did that with 3 or 4 minutes left to go in the intermission. It wasn't a planned motivational move.

TSN: what is coaching Mario Lemieux like?

EO: It's not coaching. I work with Mario. There are not too many things I can show or teach one of the greatest players of all time. Scotty Bowman didn't teach Steve Yzerman a whole lot. Pat Burns and Scott Stevens have that type of deal. Mario has been great, though. I'm glad he's my boss. He told me right from the start, "This is your team, and you are in charge."

TSN: How good is rookie goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury right now and how good will he be?

EO: Only time will tell how good he will be. The system and the talent around him will make him as good as he can be. He's 18 years old and has the world by the tail. He loves to play the game. He has the ability, to be the best. You just see it in some players at an early age. Marc is pretty special.

TSN: In the NFL, the tendency is to bring a young quarterback in slowly. You threw Fleury in net on opening night, why?

EO: I have told my team that the guys that perform the best will play. He was clearly the best of our goaltenders in camp and preseason. He had to go through the contract situation. In the draft, we went up and got him, and we wanted to send a strong message to our fans that we believe in him and the future here in Pittsburgh.--Chris Russell

TSN Number 3

Millions of dollars the Penguins will owe rookie goalie Marc-Andre Fleury in bonus money if he reaches six performance goals (his base salary is $1.2 million.) His goals hinge on appearing in at least 25 games (20 minutes constitutes an appearance). If he does, he will receive $500,000 for each of the following: 20 wins, 1,800 minutes played, a top-five finish in voting for the Calder Trophy, four shutouts, a 3.25 or lower goals-against average and a save percentage of .890 or higher.

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