The coach that took over halfway through the Penguins' 2008-09 Stanley Cup-winning season will be leading the team for at least three more years, the Penguins announced today.

Dan Bylsma signed a contract extension that will have him coaching the team through the 2013-14 season. He currently has the team contending for a top spot in the Eastern Conference even with the Penguins roster looking like a who’s who on the injured reserve.

Bylsma became the Penguins head coach on Feb. 15, 2009 and led the team to an 18-3-4 record in 25 regular season games, taking them from 10th to fourth in the conference standings before winning the Stanley Cup in the postseason.

"Dan has very quickly established himself as one of the best coaches in the National Hockey League,” Penguins general manager Ray Shero said during the announcement. “He has been a perfect fit for our organization since day one, and we look forward to having him leading our team for the next three seasons."
 
Bylsma’s record since replacing Michel Therrien in 2009 is 104-52-19, and he has coached the Penguins to a playoff spot both years he’s been behind the bench.