Source: Pens to hire Mike Johnston
— -- The Pittsburgh Penguins have finalized a deal to make Mike Johnston their next head coach, a source has confirmed to ESPN.com.
The Penguins announced a 12:30 p.m. ET news conference for Wednesday but did not disclose what it is about.
Johnston has been coach and general manager of the Western Hockey League's Portland Winterhawks since 2008-09. Before that he was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Kings and the Vancouver Canucks.
Johnston will replace Dan Bylsma, who won a franchise-record 252 games but was just 4-5 in playoff series since winning the Stanley Cup in 2009.
The Penguins also are expected to announce that Rick Tocchet will join the coaching staff as an assistant, sources said.
Information from ESPN.com's Scott Burnside was used in this report.
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