Therrien visits Consol as Minnesota scout
Michel Therrien probably once dreamed of coaching the Penguins in Consol Energy Center.
On Saturday, he settled for watching his old team from the press box.
Therrien, fired as Penguins coach on Feb. 15, 2009, is now a scout for the Minnesota Wild and watched his former team play in person for the first time since being dismissed as coach. He had nothing but good things to say about the Penguins.
"I have no hard feelings for anyone," Therrien said.
Therrien will be scouting games primarily in Pittsburgh, Buffalo, N.Y., and Columbus, Ohio, this season. While he is pleased with his new role, Therrien was said to be interested in head coaching jobs this summer, namely in New Jersey.
"I never denied that I wanted to get back into coaching," he said. "But some things are out of your control."
Therrien, who was the coach in 2007 when the Penguins and the state reached a deal to construct a new arena, is blown away by the new facility.
"Unbelievable," Therrien said. "Mario (Lemieux) and Ron Burkle are first-class people. It shows in the building."
Therrien acknowledged that he still follows the Penguins more closely than any NHL team and that he was thrilled for many of his former players when they claimed the 2009 Stanley Cup.
"It was nice to see," he said. "I expect big things from the Penguins this year."
