I got to watch the entirety of the Penguins Playoffs without hearing a word from Mears, Errey, or anyone. I watched in silence listening to reggae/ska music sitting at a beach bar owned by a guy from Minnesota who just happened to have the NHL package. Because of my two hour time change, my brother and I even talked him into opening the bar up at 10am on Sunday so we could watch the game.
Sorry I haven’t been reading the blog or comments, but I really wanted to come back and give my opinion without it being swayed by others. So here it is….
#1) Mark Recchi. My all time favorite hockey player. He needs to go. My brother dubbed him the “iPad Coach” and I believe that to be a fitting title. There are plenty of experienced ex-head coaches out there like Guy Boucher or anyone that could fill this position.
Sullivan has a plan and players Kris Letang constantly ignore it. Tocchet was excellent at getting the players to buy into the system. Recchi is not. Think about it. If one person tells you there is a raccoon behind the dumpster with five legs you would be hesitant to believe it. If a second person tells you the same thing, you tend to believe it.
#2) Sullivan is no longer untouchable. I’ve said it before, two time Stanley Cup winning coach Sullivan has a free pass until he misses the playoffs or gets blown out first round. While Sullivan is not yet on a short string, there is an ever present string.
#3) I didn’t look up the stats, but was Matt Murray’s save percentage 0% when the Penguins had the lead? If it wasn’t it had to be very close. I realize a couple of those goals were the defenses fault, but at least two of them were not.
The Islanders top goal scorer had 28 goals this season. Penguins had four guys with more point than the top Islander scorer. Matt Murray being outplayed by his counterpart is why the Pens lost. Murray wasn’t horrible.
I still don’t understand why DeSmith who had one of the top save percentages in the NHL against the Isles this season wasn’t given a shot.
#4) The Penguins defense are a defense without and identity. Are the Penguins trying to play defensive or are they trying to all go all out offense? When you have it both ways you give a lot of odd man breakaways.
#5) Olli Maatta. The TV I was watching listed Maatta as a healthy scratch and for this I present a graphic.
Olli Maatta, the guy who all year played with whichever defenseman was new to the team learning the system or a rookie, has the #1 playoff +/- in the entire NHL since he came into the league in 2012/2013. You could present the argument that Maatta is washed up, then I would say he did have the #6 best +/- in the playoffs just last year.
Find a coach that will tell you that playoff experience isn’t invaluable. Maatta had one bad game, bench him for the series? If I was him I would demand a trade.
#6) Penguins defense vs. the Islanders trap. The Penguins have 3 roster players that can throw a fast quality stretch pass which just so happens to be the 2nd best way to beat the Islanders trap. Watching Petterson and Gudbranson throw the puck back and forth to each other 5 times before leaving the zone while the Islanders set up the trap was a lesson in futility.
The Penguins forwards looked stuck in the mud because the Penguins benched one third of the guys that could break the puck out of the zone fast.
#7) Speed and hungry players. Trotman and Johnson should have been called up and playing if not by the third game, definitely in the fourth. The Pens players weren’t hungry. Trotman would have given the Pens a fourth defensive guy that could break them out fast.
#8) I mentioned in #6, the second best way to beat the Islanders trap. The best way to beat the trap would have been to use a trap of their own, then traded the punches of Crosby, Guentzel, Malkin and Kessel with the jabs of Barzal, Bailey, Nelson & Lee.
#9) The playoffs and building up to it. Everyone and their mom was so concerned as to who the Penguins would be facing the first round they missed the big picture. Sullivan barely played DeSmith down the stretch trying to ensure a better playoff spot, which back fired because DeSmith wasn’t ready to be thrown into the playoff fire.
Columbus taking down President Cup winning Tampa in four games should tell you everything you need to know about making the playoffs. Make sure you make it and have all of your resources ready.
#10) The future. I’ve read and heard people say Sullivan doesn’t coach towards a particular players strengths. He is correct in that regard. You coach towards a teams strength, not a particular players. If that player is unable to play the type of game that best fits what is best for the good of the team, then the player is the problem.
The Penguins core is ageing. The Penguins could go drastic and trade away Kessel, Hornqvist and a go heavy into the free agent market, or they need to switch to more of a defensive game like the Islanders. Switching to a defense first game the Pens could look to the free agent market releasing Letang and Johnson for a solid defensive defenseman.
Guys I wouldn’t trade no matter what? Crosby, Guentzel, Malkin & Shultz.
That’s it! I will probably relegate myself to the comment section for the summer, reading Rick and the Other Rick’s wonderful prose.
Hey Phil,
It is good to hear from you in your own posting!! Rather than just replying.
I agree with some of what you write;
I too was a Recchin-ball fan when he played, but as a coach he has been questionable at best.
I have wanted Sullivan gone every since he chose to play not to lose rather than win. He has been coaching scared for a little more than 2 years.
I know you have negative blinders when it comes to Murray so I take that with a grain of salt. Anecdotally you think Murray had a 0% Sv% with the lead – the team had a 5-on-5 Corsi of 46.67 when ahead. Maybe your anecdotal memories are correct but empirically the whole team let down with the lead, so I won’t hold Murray to any higher standard than I hold the whole team. If everyone lets down, then I won’t complain about a goalie that gives up either.
I am not going to throw all of the “D” under the bus nor am I going to fault the Wingers too much. JR was once again cowardly or lazily looking at the players for looking slow on defense and not making the first pass crisply. I would have to say sorry JR, but when the other team knows roughly where your system is trying to move the puck, that all important 1st pass that JR and Sully want to tout becomes tenuous at best. It is time to look at the coach’s inability to adjust his breakouts to what the opponents are doing. The whole team will look faster when the opponent has to slow down and watch because they don’t know where the Penguins are going with the play. If the Penguins Employed, Hedman, Karlsson, Burns, Chabot, and a couple other big D like that then maybe they could impose their will on their opponents time and time again even if the opponents know where the puck is going but when the “D” isn’t made up of the 6 best “D” in the league, they need a little coaching help.
As for Maatta, if Sullivan is fired than I may not have a problem with Maatta, but I am sorry, under Sullivan, it just looks to me that it may be time for a change.
I am not going to argue about needing hungry players, that is why I have always been a proponent of promoting nat least 1 kid every season and even possibly trading a veteran if for another veteran for a player that will be hungry.
Hey tOR,
Wait, we disagree on Murray? This is the first I’m hearing of this. lol.
I’m thinking maybe I need to toss Gonchar under the bus with Recchi. What are the Pens thinking bringing in two new guys who have never coached?
So basically anything Sullivan says is backed up by two first year coaches and a 65 year old. The Pens need to up their coaching package.
Trading veterans isn’t a horrible idea. I think the Pens have enough defensemen that they could do away with Letang. I think they can be taught faster breakouts. Kessel had great points, but I question his attitude.
If the Pens ditched them for salary then players like Panarin or Duchene are available.
Panarin would be the perfect fit. It would give Malkin a russian friend allowing for Gonchar to be sent to some other role on the team like, oh i don’t know “player development” or something. Malkins happy, pens can get better coaches, all would be right in the world.
Phil – Great article – I’ve listed a few thoughts to keep the conversation
going.
1) Everyone wants to compare the 2019 team to the Pen’s team that last
won the cup – Forgetting that Crosby, Malkin & Letang are 3 to 4 yrs older.
2) You talked about being a good fit for a teams system – I agree totally with
one exception. The system has out grown itself – teams around the league
have not only matched the Pens speed of 3yrs ago but have surpassed it.
3) I spent 14 yrs working in the front office of the NBA – The game changes and
teams are now combining grit/toughness with speed – The Pen’s front office
haven’t adjusted.
4) This is where I have a problem with Sullivan “ego” – In Basketball I’m a believer
in man to man defense but if someone tells me I can win by 20 playing zone or
the game could go either way if I play man to man ” I’m playing zone”. Against
the Isles the Pen’s should of went into a defensive mode but Sullivan’s ego
wouldn’t allow him to make that adjustment.
5) Everyone wants to blame the Pen’s defense for the Pen’s poor performance – In
my opinion the bigger problem is with there forwards – Case in point – the Isles
Defenseman came into the playoffs ranked 16th out of the 16 teams that made
the playoffs – It was there forwards that frustrated the Pen’s – every time we
crossed the blueline they had at least (4) players back – they took away every
shot and passing lane – It was impressive.
6) Murray – I’ve lost a lot of faith in Murray – I agree he didn’t stink but he does a
poor job of managing rebounds – he always seems to let in a bad goal or
two and he’s injury prone – like you I would of liked DeSmith to get an
opportunity to see what he could do.
7) Last but not least it will be interesting to see what JR does in the next several
months. Imo they need to add toughness at the forward position – we win very
few battles along the wall – that has to change. Simon, ZAR, Rust are guys that
should be on the block. Defensively I would move Letang (clear cap space)
and Maata – Maata is not the same player and injuries have definitely taken
there toll on him physically.
Thanks for the article – I look forward to your thoughts / feedback.
Hey Mike,
Some really good points;
1) Crosby and Malkin are not as young as they were during the BTB Cups. They can’t be expected to do what they did then – at least not without a little help.
2-4) Agreed, systems have a shelf life. Once other teams adjust – you have to adjust back. As I wrote above, I don’t think the team slowed down as much as it appears. It looks to me more like the other team is just so used to what the Penguins are doing that they get there 1st. They don’t have to wait to see where the puck is going.
5) I hesitate to throw the Forwards under the bus just like I am now not as upset with the D as I once was. I blame the system more than the players.
6) One of the most impressive things about Murray during his first 2 playoff runs was how he controlled the rebounds. You cite his lack of control of rebounds as to why you don’t like him. So, my question what changed?
7) I will wait until I discuss the Penguins LWs before I talk about Simon and ZAR, but as for Rust, I could see the Pens trading him. He will be easier to move than many other players since he is young. However, I don’t think trading him is a necessity.
Letang – I should wait until I talk about the “D” for my full thoughts, but I will leave this out there, with an 8 team LTC, a huge Cap hit and the number of really good RD going UFA, I don’t see him as movable.
Hi TOR!
For point 6, I may have an answer for you. When the Pens won their B2B Stanley cups, the goalie coach was Mike Bales. He worked with Marc-André Fleury for 4 years. Mike Buckley, the current goalie coach, was hired on June 17, 2017, just a few days after the Pens won their second cup.
Mike Bales is the current goalie coach for the Carolina Hurricanes. I think he has done a pretty good job so far with Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney. As of March 5th, the Hurricanes were 12th overall in team save percentage (.905) after finishing 31st last season.
Personally, I think Bales is a better coach than Buckley. I think he has a better understanding of the goalie position. He played 23 games in the NHL and played several years in Europe. On the other hand, Buckley never played in the NHL and mostly played in the minors (32 games spreaded over 5 years).
Bales has more professional experience as a goalie and more experience in coaching goalies at a professional level. I still don’t understand why the Pens hasn’t renewed Bales’s contract. Well, actually, I have an idea why. Mike Sullivan has something to do with it. Buckley was the goalie coach for the baby Pens and worked there with Matt Murray.
So, Bales and Buckley may have a different approach when working with goalies. That could a part of the explanation of why Murray has trouble with the rebounds.
Thanks Jorenz,
I forgot about that. I mentioned the different coaches back in December in Christmas wish list. But you are right, Bales is a better coach. And you may be right about Sullivan, he likes “HIS” guys.
Hey Mike,
I like a lot of what you are saying. No one had a problem with Sullivan’s ego when the team was winning cups. I still say the problem is Recchi. Especially after watching Letang in his exit interview. He was questioned about his defensive play and he was adamant that he played very defensive. I think this is Recchi not getting Sulli’s word to the players.
I would go after an assistant with experience and I would also move Letang as my first order of business if I was JR.
ZAR $900 thou – Simon $750 – Why would you move the value you are getting from these guys? Rust 17 goals 35 points +10 – You said everyone is combining grit/toughness with speed. Why would we trade it away????
The question is why is Wilson on the team? 50 games 8 points same cost as Simon. Put Simon on the 4th line. While your at it, let Cullen retire.
I would not
Phil
I know this is a slow reply – my apologies. My feelings with ZAR and Simon are neither is good enough to play on your top 3 lines. ZAR to me has been a disappointment in the grit/toughness department and Simon repeatedly gets killed on the boards / puck battles – I was beyond frustrated in the Isles series watching him being used as a human zamboni – he spent half of his shifts cleaning the ice. Both bring something to the table but not enough. IMO it doesn’t matter if they come cheap if they they’re not good enough.
Phil as far as Sully’s ego i do believe your correct that no one had a problem with it while they were winning cups – The reason I believe is system was working but the fact he won’t make an adjustment is why i’m pointing to his ego – yearly players and style of play changes in the NHL and I believe its important to make the necessary adjustments. IMO this
is where the Pen’s come up short. This is not entirely Sully’s fault – JR has to shoulder much of the blame as well.
As for Rust i do like his speed – its his inconsistencies and long droughts that concern me. If he’s a 3rd line guy okay but the Pen’s need to restructure their 4th line – it’s obvious watching the playoffs the importance of having a 4th line that’s plays with energy and capable of establishing a physical presence.
Appreciate the feedback – I’m 100% in agreement on Recchi and Letang. I’m sure Recchi know’s his stuff but it takes an Assistant Coach with the right personality to act as a buffer between the Head Coach and player.