SIDELINES : Penguins Have Talked to Johnson

The Pittsburgh Penguins are considering the executive director of USA Hockey as their new coach, according to published reports.

Bob Johnson, also a former coach of the Calgary Flames, met with Penguins General Manager Craig Patrick at the hockey world championships in Switzerland last month, The Pittsburgh Press reported today.

Johnson, 59, coached the Flames in 1982-83 and 1986-87. He coached the 1976 U.S. Olympic hockey team.

Patrick told The Pittsburgh Press and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he isn’t saying who is a candidate for the coaching job. Patrick was the Penguins’ coach for most of the 1989-90 season.