Penguins ink coach Therrien

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, July 18, 2008 (AFP) - The Pittsburgh Penguins inked coach Michel Therrien to a new contract on Friday that will keep him with the National Hockey League club through the 2010-11 season.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but the Penguins did reveal that Therrien will receive a pay rise next season.

"I´m excited to have a new three-year contract with the Penguins and am looking forward to continued success here in Pittsburgh," said Therrien, who had one year left on his previous contract. "It is a great hockey city with an outstanding fan base."

Following their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 16 years, the Eastern Conference champoin Penguins dedicated the majority of this offseason to re-signing their core of young players, including Evgeni Malkin, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and defenseman Brooks Orpik.

But Therrien, too, played a key role in transforming the club into a title contender in less than three years.

"Michel has done a tremendous job with our team over the past two-and-a-half seasons, developing our young players while leading us to division and conference championships and the Stanley Cup finals," general manager Ray Shero said.

"He had one year remaining on his previous contract, and we could have simply talked about an extension.

"But we thought that, based on the success we´ve had together, it was time to negotiate a new deal, starting with an increase in compensation for the 2008-09 season."