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The NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins dropped the axe on general manager Ray Shero on May 16 after they were eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs by the New York Rangers. The Penguins held a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series, but the Rangers came storming back and took the series in seven games, with the deciding match coming in the Penguins’ home rink. They also outscored the Penguins 10-3 over those final three contests. Many media outlets assumed head coach Dan Bylsma would also be let go by the team, but apparently the next GM will decide on his fate.

Thirty-seven-year-old Jason Botterill, the club’s assistant GM for the past five years, will take over the reins on an interim basis and it’s possible he could eventually be named the fulltime boss. Penguins president David Morehouse said it’s a possibility, but the club will take the time to interview several candidates for the vacant position. But with the NHL Entry Draft coming up at the end of June, Morehouse will need to make up his mind sooner rather than later.

Therefore, the 43-year-old Bylsma, who just signed a contract extension last year, will have to wait awhile to find out if he’ll still be coaching the squad next season. His regular season coaching records with the Penguins stands at 252-117-32 since replacing Michel Therrien in 2009. Bylsma was also named the coach of the year for the 2010/11 season.

Pittsburgh last won the Stanley Cup in the 2008/09 season, but they’ve won just four out of nine playoff series since then. They had won seven out of the previous eight series culminating in their cup triumph. The 51-year-old Shero was hired back in 2006 when he took over from former GM Craig Patrick. Before that, Shero worked in the front office with the Nashville Predators and Ottawa Senators.

Shero’s teams have all performed well during the NHL’s regular seasons, but have been stymied in the postseason over the past few years. They were swept in four games last season in the Eastern final by the Boston Bruins after trading away several draft picks and young prospects. In addition, Shero hasn’t had much luck himself at the draft table recently with no picks between 2077 and 2011 playing as regulars on the team.