Pens sign Therrien to extension

Jul 16, 2007, 15:15 GMT

Pittsburgh, PA - The Pittsburgh Penguins signed head coach Michel Therrien to a contract extension through the 2008-09 season Monday.

Therrien led the Penguins to a 47-24-11 record (105 points) during the 2006-07 season, a 47-point improvement over the previous season which was the fourth largest single-season turnaround in NHL history.

The 105 points was the second most in Penguins history, trailing only the 1992-93 Pittsburgh team that totaled 119 points on their way to winning the Presidents' Trophy.

Therrien also guided the Penguins into the playoffs for the first time since the 2000-01 season and was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award which is presented the NHL's outstanding coach.

Therrien was originally promoted to head coach of the Penguins in December of 2005 after piloting the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL) for parts of three seasons.

Before joining the Penguins, Therrien spent six seasons in the Montreal Canadiens organization, including a stint as the team's head coach, during which he posted a 77-91-22 record in parts of three seasons. That included leading the Habs to the playoffs in 2001-02, their first postseason appearance in four seasons.

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