There are lots of folks who think the Penguins’ Mike Sullivan rates among the top coaches in hockey. There’s plenty of evidence to support those claims. Two Stanley Cups for starters (Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper and Calgary’s Darryl Sutter are the only active coaches with as many). Seven straight postseason appearances. The winningest bench boss in black-and-gold history.
It’s safe to say Sullivan revolutionized the game when he took over as our skipper in 2015. At a time when much of the NHL employed a heavier approach, Sullivan championed speed, an aggressive forecheck and puck possession. The other clubs quickly followed his lead. Colorado’s the latest team to hoist a Cup following Sully’s blueprint.
Passionate, intelligent and well-spoken, he’s an excellent motivator and communicator. A straight shooter who calls ‘em like he’s sees ‘em. All the while walking a thin line between being overly harsh and too soft. Were it not so, his players would’ve revolted long ago. (Remember Michel Therrien?)
By all accounts, the Pens have a good “room.” Sullivan certainly has a hand in fostering that.
A quality person, too.
Having given credit where credit due, is it time for him to go?
Yes, you heard me right.
The Pens’ present maladies are disturbing to say the least. Eerily reminiscent of our 0-6-1 stretch earlier in the season. Not showing up for games. (Sorry, the Islanders disgrace still sticks in my craw.) Not protecting leads when we do. We seem to be inventing new ways to lose or reprising old ones. All the while bleeding off precious points.
Injuries have played a part, stripping away the team’s top two defensemen and 2/3rds of a fairly effective fourth line, exposing depth issues and flaws that certainly aren’t of Sullivan’s doing. The sudden, shocking and steep decline of former defensive stalwart Brian Dumoulin hasn’t helped matters.
But neither has Sullivan’s questionable and at times downright baffling deployment of his troops. He’s shortened his bench, ridiculously so. Aging stars Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang (when healthy) and Evgeni Malkin are logging huge minutes, at mid-season mind you, while comparatively fresh legs like Kasperi Kapanen and Pierre-Olivier Joseph have been shunted to the margins.
Indeed, while Kapanen, who scored the lone Pens’ goal, was limited to 7:21 of ice time in the Winter Classic, Joseph saw just 12:25 of ice time while Dumoulin logged over 19 minutes. For the record, POJ’s been on the ice for 27 goals for 5v5 and only 14 against this season.
Dumo? Nineteen goals for and a staggering 33 against 5v5, including both goals against the Bruins. Yet he keeps getting shoved out there at crunch time while others are held back.
Old habits are the toughest to break. So are old loyalties.
Right now Dumoulin’s being put in a position to fail. So is the team.
It’s not an anomaly but rather de rigueur under Sullivan. Against Detroit, Kapanen set up our first two goals and was limited to 7:20 of ice time. It could’ve been worse. Drew O’Connor scored his first goal of the season and was limited to eight shifts (5:11 TOI). He’s been a healthy scratch the last two games.
Personnel decisions like that we don’t need, especially when every point counts.
However, once Sully sours on a player, there’s no turning back. It seems like that describes half our roster right now. That just can’t be.
Then there’s the obstinance. The unwillingness to adjust. No kids. No physical players. At least none who might inspire the team with a big hit or (gasp) a fight on nights when the skill guys just don’t have it.
There are whole breeds of hockey player we’ll never see as long as Sullivan’s our coach.
I’m tired of living with the restrictions and his narrow preferences for roster construction.
I’m not saying another coach would lead us to a Stanley Cup. That ship has sailed. The Pens are entering the final throes of the championship cycle, when even the best of teams succumb to the inexorable tide of age and erosion of talent. But a new coach might bring a new energy and a fresh perspective. A renewed sense of purpose. In the process perhaps teaching a collection of old dogs some new tricks.
It happened before, back in 2015. Remember?
Parting ways with Sullivan would not be easy. In addition to his considerable achievements, he’s signed for four more seasons after this one. There would be pain, financial and otherwise, in the parting.
But every coach has a shelf life. With all due respect, I think Sullivan may be approaching his. At least in the ‘Burgh.
Hey Rick,
Great stuff as usual, otherwise I wouldn’t now be replying.
I understand from where the love affair with Sullivan comes. Sullivan was on the Penguins’ team that won the Stanley Cup. During those heady days of success, during our honeymoon phase, all kinds of warts got glossed over. As I have often written, during those Cup runs I was all behind the idea of giving Sullivan the Jack Adams Award.
When you say that Sullivan revolutionized the game, in the after-glow of the Cups I was right there with you. Then I woke up.
With the aid of time to critically think about what happened; no, Sullivan didn’t revolutionize anything. Honesty forces me to acknowledge his speed game wedded to 2 generational talents in Crosby and Malkin and a supporting cast of future hall of famers and other star type players, our Penguins caught the league by surprise for the first Cup. The flaws of the speed only game became apparent during the 2nd Cup run. If not for the superlative tandem of Fleury and Murray and their combined 5 SOs the wheels would probably have fallen off the cart right then and there.
Since that 2nd Cup run, the league has gone back to a heavier game, maybe not skill less goons but heavier skilled players. Sullivan didn’t revolutionize the game. Had he changed the face of the game, Montreal would never have drafted 6’3”, 238lb Jruaj Slatkovsky with the overall number 1 pick this past draft. They would have drafted 6’1”, 187lb Shane Wright. And players like 6’7”, 257lb, Jamie Oleksiak, 6’6” 248lb Nikita Zadorov, 6’8” 246lb Elmer Soderbloom, 6’7”, 244lb Victor Hedman, 6’3” 240 Milan Lucic, 6’3”, 238 Alex Ovechkin wouldn’t be picking up NHL paychecks.
As for good coach, a good coach doesn’t contradict his GM like Sullivan did after the loss to the Capitals in 17-18 when he said a Kessel wasn’t injured like JR said. A good coach doesn’t come out in the media and whine that no one wanted to listen to him after getting swept by the Isles the next season. A good coach would never have offered Dominik Simon a contract this past off season. Shall I go on?
As for a good person, I don’t know him personally, however, I would bet at least off the record (most hockey players are respectful when in the media) you would get arguments from Cole, Kessel, Reaves, and Sprong (although in his case – that may have been mutual angst). I have also heard from sources that Bonino wouldn’t have taken a contract with Pittsburgh even if he was offered Crosby money, just like I here of Reaves
I don’t care about the media spin. Every fiber in me cries for the Penguins to get back on the winning track, to answer you question, it is well past time to move on from our Coach. Egos may prevent Sullivan’s end in Pgh. People may never want to admit they were wrong, but without the team somehow plucking 2 young, generational talents like a la Crosby and Malkin and a comparable supporting cast, or a complete melt down from the rest of the league, we will not see another Cup run under Sullivan.
Hi Rick!
Very good article that sums up what we’ve been thinking for a while.
To conclude, I have two questions for you regarding Sully (TOR, Jim, Mike, you may jump in).
1- Do you think that the Fenway Group would be eager to make a coaching change but could be vetoed by Mario Lemieux?
2- Could the Fenway Group fire Hextall and Burke instead of replacing the coach since his contract was extended for 4 years?
It’s fun to play the armchair GM every now and then! 😊
Hello Jorenz,
You raise some very interesting points. I seem to recall reading at the time Sullivan was signed to the extension that FSG was firmly behind the move and that they really like him. Of course, that could be PR blather. Who knows if it’s true.
Your second point…wow. Given the investment in Sullivan, I think FSG would part ways with Hextall and Burke first. It’s been a bit of an uneasy marriage from the get-go. Of course Sullivan prefers speedy (which often translates into smaller) players, the better to play his preferred skating/forechecking style. Hextall and Burke wanted to add a bit of a long pants element, which they have to an extent with Carter, Petry and Rutta. But I’m not sure if Sullivan is as comfortable coaching a hybrid team. He wasn’t back in 2019 when we brought in guys like Nick Bjugstad and Erik Gudbranson.
Our age is another factor. We may not be capable of playing the style Sully prefers, at least not for a full 60 minutes. I do think we did a decent job of playing a more buttoned-down style during our hot streak, and Sullivan certainly deserves some credit making that adjustment. Just don’t know if we can keep that up.
My main bone of contention with Sullivan are his awkward personnel decisions of late, which completely fly in the face of any kind of logic, and his reluctance if not downright refusal to give the kids a chance. His aversion to truly physical players is always simmering just below the surface, too.
Rick
Hey Rick
Great article – I totally agree with your assessment of Sullivan who I’ve been guilty of going to
bat for in the past – I know better than most the demands of a Pro Head Coach.
The one thing that really bothers me is Hextall and Burke’s unwillingness to lay the law down
to Sully and for that reason I’m holding them at least 50% responsible for the state of the team.
It’s not that tough to bring your Coach in for a man to man chat and explain the upgrades that
need to be made to the roster and how if he wants to remain with the organization he’ll be fully
committed. If not then you mutually part ways.
Couple of tidbits:
1) Dumo needed to be moved in the off5-season. The Pen’s continue to live in the past and it’s coming
back to bite them in the _ss.
2) I still stand by my opinion that signing Letang and Malkin was a mistake that will haunt us for years.
3) I see all these “Hockey guru’s” talking about the Pen’s needing to make a trade but not one of them
ever mention’s size or toughness. Rick I’m excluding you of course. I know your feeling on that topic.
4) Pen’s need a major trade making everyone available with the exception of Sid The Kid.
I’m done venting “GO PENS”
Hey Mike,
Always good to hear from you.
I think you and I feel the same about Sullivan. There are things that bother me about him, but I can appreciate his better qualities, too, and he has a lot of them. But lately…yikes. It just seems like all his negatives have come rushing to the fore.
I’m sure he’s feeling pressure to win as many games as he can…the Metro is murder this year…and that may be driving some of his decisions, especially regarding the kids. But shortening his bench and loading up on ice time for his aging core makes no sense at all, especially when the very guys he’s squeezing out are actually producing a little. Whether he likes these guys or, it’s part of his job it work with them and help them develop. You can’t just say you don’t like a guy and not play him. That’s cutting off your nose to spite your face…especially with injuries piling up.
With four years left on his contract, I’m sure Sullivan’s not going anywhere unless the bottom absolutely falls out on this team. But I would love to have a coach who actually embraces kids and players who bring different qualities and attributes to the table instead of shunning them.
Agree about Dumoulin, although in my worst nightmares I wouldn’t have seen him regressing so suddenly and dramatically. It isn’t that he isn’t trying or giving it his all. But, as one of the other writers (Gretz?) noted, he physically just can’t do the things he used to do. How sad.
Anyway, thanks as always for reading and commenting. Hope you are well …
Rick
Rick
I’m 100% with your assessment of Sullivan. The problem I have with Hextall is his lack of backbone to
make the tough decisions. When Hextall and Burke arrived the very first thing that came out of their
mouths was addressing the size and toughness issue that this team desperately needed. To me
three very important things needed to be address:
1) Sullivan – they had to address his denial to play physical / hard nosed players “Didn’t happen”
2) Size and toughness – I would like to give him a pass here but getting a 35 year old Defenseman
and a player that couldn’t crack the Habs lineup didn’t really improve the dynamics of our
roster. I would admit both players have been solid. Didn’t happen
3) Signing both Malkin and Letang to long term deals. This was his chance to restructure and
already aging team and he failed miserably. Plus he basically was saying the team as it
finished last year was good enough to keep together. Didn’t happen.
Each of these three issues would of taken backbone and a hard stance and he buried his head
in the sand on each of them. Maybe Sullivan needs to go but Hextall should immediately or
vise-versa. “IMO”
Hi Jorenz
You raise two great questions. Personally I think the answer to your second question is that the Fenway Group could very easily replace Hextall and Burke and nothing would change. Just more of the same old pass the problem down the road and deal with the real problems later,This is what I expect them to do.
Your first question is a little trickier to answer. We know that Fenway Group are the majority owners of the Penguins and as such hold the keys to the ultimate power inside the Penguins organization. Mario and Ron hold a very small stake of the Penguins stock so there is little he can legally do.However what Mario does have is a tremendous amount of Good Will with the Fan Base and the people of Pittsburgh and the Fenway Group have to always be mindful of that fact.The last thing they need is a public spat with icon Mario Lemieux .
Great questions ….
Cheers
Jim
Hey Rick
Very well said of Coach Sullivan.I don’t believe I would be so gracious but never the less your words ring true.
Compared with other Coaches we have had his achievements are note worthy. The real underlying issue is the Team he Coaches now have real issues and his STAR players are no longer the best on the ice.Past expectations of the fans and the local media can not be transferred to the future. At some point reality must set in and one must accept that with out serious changes the Penguins will never lift the Cup again in the so called Crosby era.
I agree Sullivan’s best before date has come and gone but it is a lot easier said than done to fire him.
The players that really matter, CROSBY and Malkin appear to support their Coach and that too can be part of the problem.
Rick we all have been guilty of criticizing GMRH, but given the Pen’s former Ownership, his 2 aging Super star players, no salary Cap to work with,no farm system and a Coach with an ego the size of Pittsburgh, Hextal can not do very much.
In closing I wish they would let Sullivan go but until the Ownership makes a serious decision to trade one of their 2 Super Stars I think Sullivan will still be here for a long while and we might as well accept it.
Cheers
JIM
Hello my friend,
I just have a moment. But I wanted to let you know it was your response to my “Pitchforked” game summary the other day that inspired this article. I kind of took your very astute comments about Sullivan and ran with them.
Hope you are well … 🙂
Rick
Hey Jim
Happy New New
I don’t disagree with you regarding Sully – He annoys me in many ways with his coaching style and inability
to make adjustments to his system to align with his personnel.
Every time I watch the Pen’s play I have a flash back of Hextall & Burke saying they were going to address
the Pen’s need for size & toughness and regardless of the salary cap he could of made strides to address
these two issues – He did neither. Is Rutta better than Marino?? Is Petry at 35 better than Matheson at 28??
Petry was solid before his injury but I would much rather have Petry at 30 than 35.
Anyway I sort of got off the beaten trail – IMO as GM and I mentioned this at the end of last season both Hextall
and Burke needed to sit Sullivan down and tell him if he wanted to remain Coach of the Pens he had to be on
board with adding physical players to the roster with size & toughness. This is the reason why I hold Hextall at
least 50% responsible for the condition of the roster. Also, by signing Malkin and Letang to long term deals he
has set the organization back a good five years.
I look forward to your thoughts – GO PENS