Penguins Update: Is Mike Sullivan Losing the Team?

I was responding to some extremely well written and insightful comments by PenguinPoop reader Jorenz. As my thoughts began to flow, I realized I had the crux of a full-blown article. Thank you, Jorenz, for providing both the fuel and the inspiration.

While fellow PenguinPooper Other Rick and frequent commenter Dee have been critical of coach Mike Sullivan’s work through a mostly lackluster regular season, I’ve been more neutral. After all, “Sully” led us to back-to-back Cups. It’s hard to point a finger at a guy who’s enjoyed so much success. There’s no question he knows the game.

However, every coach has a shelf life. Heck, Chicago fired Joel Quenneville…the dean of NHL coaches…following a remarkably successful 11-season run in the Windy City. As unthinkable as it may seem, is Sullivan approaching his expiration date, too?

The Pens don’t seem to be a happy bunch these days…nor especially engaged or motivated. I have all-too-frequent flashbacks to the end of the Michel Therrien era, when Sidney Crosby walked around with a toque pulled down near his eyes and Max Talbot remarked, “Nobody wanted to come to the rink.”

Therrien’s mostly successful black-and-gold tenure lasted 272 games. Ironically, the exact same number Sullivan’s coached in the Steel City.

Another ironic twist? Toward the end of his reign, Therrien juggled his forward lines at a maddening pace…as if it were the only adjustment he knew how to make. An all-too-familiar trait of Sullivan’s, too.

I’m not suggesting the New England native’s a Therrien clone. The latter was notoriously hard on his players. However, there are similarities. Both preach accountability. Neither is known to sugar coat. Both tend to reinforce their message in a somewhat relentless fashion that can wear a team down over time and lead to burn out.

It happened to the Penguins back in 2009…oddly in the midst of a Stanley Cup campaign. I wonder if it’s happening again. We don’t seem to have any hop or juice…at least not on a consistent basis.

Initially, I thought Sullivan was a different breed of coach…one who could walk the admittedly fine line between disciplining his players while still motivating and supporting them. A blend of Therrien and another ex-Pens skipper, Dan Bylsma. Now I’m not so sure.

I’ve never been inside the Penguins’ locker room. Nor have I attended a practice session. So I truly don’t know the details of how Sullivan communicates with his players. During interviews he comes off as thoughtful, passionate, composed and well-spoken. He has a reputation for being honest, straightforward and direct…all admirable qualities.

Perhaps more than a bit stubborn and set in his ways. Attributes that worry me.

It’s important to hold guys accountable, Lord knows. However, like a pitcher in baseball, you’ve got to change speeds once a while. You have to know when to press and when to ease off. Given his intense nature, I’m not sure Sully does.

Several of our commenters, including Jorenz and Dee, noted things began to deteriorate when assistant coach Rick Tocchet joined the Coyotes. I wholeheartedly agree. Sullivan and Tocchet enjoyed a relationship dating back to their playing careers and shared lots of trust and mutual respect. I’m sure the assistant willingly reinforced his boss’s message with the players…perhaps in a way that didn’t grate or grind.

At the same time, Tocchet was popular and accessible. He no doubt served as a safe haven of sorts where guys could air their grievances and sound off. A buffer between Sullivan and the team.

I don’t know if that buffer exists any more. If it does…perhaps through Sergei Gonchar and/or Mark Recchi…it’s obviously not the same dynamic.

It doesn’t help that “big” personalities such as Ian Cole, Ben Lovejoy and Ryan Reaves have moved on…perhaps at Sullivan’s behest as some members of the media suggest. I’m sure those guys served as a welcome distraction in the locker room.

As in any relationship dynamic, it’s our differences that provide the spice. I’m not sure it’s a good thing that all the guys have more or less the same personality traits. Nor is it necessarily a good thing that Sullivan’s voice is the only one the players hear.

I don’t lay our present problems entirely at our coach’s feet. There are myriad reasons why teams don’t win Stanley Cups year after year after year. So many things have to go right in order for that glorious event to occur, from the general manager assembling just the right personnel to the coach pushing all the right buttons to the players laying it all out on the line on a nightly basis. There’s more than a little luck involved, too.

Speaking of the players, they need to take a hard look at themselves in the mirror. They’re well-paid professionals, playing the game they love. Whether they like their coach…or the way he delivers his message…is a moot point. Our lack of passion and consistent effort is appalling. I can count on one hand the number of times our guys have played for a full 60 minutes this season.

Ultimately, they’re the ones lacing up the skates. They need to wake up, get over themselves…and start pulling together as a team.

Time’s a wastin’ and valuable points are slipping away. With it, perhaps the last real opportunity for this group to take a run at the Cup.