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Report: Penguins ownership considers 'sweeping overhaul' after playoff elimination

It's been nearly five long years since the Pittsburgh Penguins, a team blessed with two of the five best forwards in hockey and saddled with perpetually high expectations, last hoisted the Stanley Cup. On Tuesday, the continuance of that streak became assured with a 2-1 Penguins loss to the New York Rangers in a winner-takes-all Game 7. 

The organization's inability to convert the scoring primes of two generational talents in Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, into multiple Stanley Cup victories, has tested the patience of Penguins ownership. That patience may be worn out entirely in the wake of the club's most recent May disappointment and, according to Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reporter Rob Rossi, Penguins ownership is considering drastic action:

Penguins ownership will consider a sweeping overhaul that could include terminating general manager Ray Shero in addition to Dan Bylsma and the members of the coaching staff, multiple sources told the Tribune-Review. Ownership specifically is concerned about a perceived lack of accountability for players, overall team toughness and unproductive drafts, the sources said.

The sources also said Penguins ownership might not want to undergo a complete front-office shakeup with only about a month before the NHL Entry Draft.

No decisions have been made, and they will not be rushed, the sources said.

ESPN's John Buccigross also suggests that Bylsma's days in Pittsburgh are numbered:

While Bylsma has yet to calculate the cost of his team's elimination, the dissatisfaction of ownership has been apparent for much of the postseason. Penguins co-owner and Hockey Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux appeared in the Penguins locker room and stared down his players during the first round, for example. Lemieux's ownership counterpart Ron Burkle, meanwhile, reacted to Tuesday night's elimination by getting to the bottom of his cup promptly:

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