Coach Bylsma's Clips

Why is fighting still allowed in hockey? Coach Dan Bylsma and Bryan Bylsma break down the history of fighting in the NHL, from the Philadelphia Flyers’ Broad Street Bullies and the rise of hockey enforcers to the faster, more skilled game we see today. Dan explains why NHL teams once relied on enforcers to protect superstars like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, how fighting could change momentum, and why the traditional tough-guy role has nearly disappeared from modern hockey.

Dan also shares firsthand stories from his playing and coaching career, including getting punched 19 times in one of his first professional fights, learning when not to drop the gloves, bench-clearing chaos, goalie fights, and how physical players can fight their way onto an NHL roster. With fighting dramatically declining over the past 15 years, Dan and Bryan explore how NHL strategy, roster construction and player development have changedand answer the bigger question: does fighting still have a place in hockey?

In 2009, Dan Bylsma went from coaching in the AHL to leading the Pittsburgh Penguins on an unforgettable Stanley Cup run. In this episode of Coach Bylsma’s Clips, Dan and Bryan Bylsma go behind the scenes of the 2009 Stanley Cup season, from Ray Shero’s unexpected phone call and a contract signed on a Delta cocktail napkin to the Penguins’ incredible 18–3–4 finish and their journey through the NHL playoffs. Dan shares stories from the Philadelphia Flyers comeback, the heated seven-game series against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Stanley Cup Final against Mike Babcock and the Detroit Red Wings.But this isn’t just a story about hockey. Dan opens up about the mentality that transformed the Penguins, the leadership of Sidney Crosby, Marc-Andre Fleury, Evgeni Malkin and the rest of the team, and the behind-the-scenes moments that helped create a championship culture. Then Bryan and Dan relive one of the most unforgettable days of their lives: bringing the Stanley Cup home to Grand Haven, Michigan, taking it fishing on Lake Michigan, sharing it with family and friends, and even filling the Cup with ice cream. It’s a personal look at the 2009 Pittsburgh Penguins, the Stanley Cup championship, and the moments fans never got to see.

🎙️ Coach Bylsma’s Clips is coming.Hockey. Sports. Outdoors. Good conversations.Follow @Back42_Sports for the clips. 👀🏒#Back42Sports #CoachBylsmasClips