Apparently there was a rumor (since squashed) circulating through the hockey universe that Penguins coach Mike Sullivan might have an interest in joining old friend and Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald in New Jersey…and vice versa. A rumor that was promptly doused with a bucket of ice water by Kyle Dubas in a text to Rob Rossi of The Athletic.
“There have been no requests or permissions granted,” stated the Pens’ GM.
Darn.
I, for one, would be perfectly amenable to Sullivan switching employers, in the process nulling and voiding the three-year extension he signed with us in August of 2022.
My reasons? After eight-plus seasons of Sully hockey, the Pens need a change. We need a new voice, a new or at the very least updated system, and a more kid-friendly coach. Hanging on to Sully for three more seasons of the same old, same old is only going to prolong the agony of the last two.
We also need an organizational shift in the type of player we pursue. We need to be grittier and more competitive. We need forwards who’ll drive to the net and get their noses dirty (ex: Michael Bunting) and defensemen who’ll actually defend with some vigor. Not the “offensemen” Sully seems to covet.
That shift isn’t likely to take place with the Massachusetts native influencing the draft and/or personnel decisions.
A change in venue would be good for Sullivan, too. The Devils, fast, young and talented, are better able to execute the speed-based, pressing style he prefers.
As for the oft-stated fear that Sully would experience success elsewhere?
Who cares?
To cite a similar scenario, the Capitals let Peter Laviolette, an established coach and Cup winner, walk last summer after they missed the playoffs. “Lavy” subsequently hooked on the with the Rangers and led them to the Presidents’ Trophy. Meanwhile, in DC, rookie head coach Spencer Carbery squeezed the absolute most out of an aging and modestly talented Caps team in transition. (Does that ring a bell?)
I could envision a similar scenario playing out vis-à-vis the Pens and Devils.
Heck, maybe we could even nab a player or draft pick in return. Back in 1976, the Oakland As peddled manager Chuck Tanner to the Pirates for all-star catcher Manny Sanguillén and $100,000.
Perhaps a similar deal could be struck for Sullivan.
Hey, a guy can dream, can’t he?
Amen, Rick. We can only hope the rumors are true and Sully heads to Jersey and we cut the noose around the Pen’s neck called Sully Hockey. I believe Sullivan cut a 3 peat short with the ridiculous trade for Derick Brassard and the Pens gave up muscle and grit (Ian Cole and Ryan Reaves). The Caps played Goon hockey and pushed their way to an eventual Stanley Cup by outmuscling the Pens in the 2nd round. It would have been nice to have Cole and Reaves to Counter the Tom Wilson thuggery. That seemed to be a reoccurring trend for the Pens in future playoffs. Just play hockey and get the hell knocked out of you. Get the draft pick and let him walk. He is stale and the Pen’s need a new voice to break up the country club of mediocre.
pne
Hey Detroit Dave,
I just saw this and had to respond. I’m with you on the Brassard trade, right down the line. In fact I wrote an article about it back in 2020 in which I hit many of the points you did. Here’s the URL: https://penguinpoop.com/2020/penguins-update-the-day-our-dynasty-died/
I don’t know if we would’ve won the Cup that year…IMHO we were a tired team. But I do agree that having Ryan Reaves and Ian Cole in the lineup would’ve gone a long way to neutralizing the Caps’ aggressive tactics, particularly those of Tom Wilson. Plain and simple, that series turned on Wilson’s train-wrecking of Zach Aston-Reese in Game 3.
If Reaves were in the lineup, I don’t know if that hit occurs. Reavo is the one guy Wilson seems to fear. And even if the hit took place, I think we would’ve reacted differently as a team.
One of my biggest charges against Sullivan…and why I want him replaced…is that he places limits on our aggression. I get why he does it to an extent…he doesn’t want guys taking penalties (although his stars do anyway). But you have to have guys who’ll physically go to the wall for the team.
I was watching the ‘Canes-Rangers last night. There’s no denying Carolina’s a talented team, maybe even the better team now that they got Guentzel and Kuznetsov. But the Rangers are more forceful. I just got the feeling that the Rangers were seeking contact and scrums while the ‘Canes, who are hardly soft, were trying to avoid them.
In the cauldron of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, forceful teams generally prevail.
Rick
Hey Rick,
I heard these rumors too. What I heard is that Sullivan has a problem with Dubas and I can believe it. I wouldn’t doubt that it all stems from the Guentzel trade. Rather than step up and rally the team after the trade, much of what he said fed into the sulking of the players. A lot f what he said was maudlin on his part too, over losing Jake.
The interesting thing about Dubas saying that he didn’t give New Jersey or anyone permission to talk to Sullivan,
A) doesn’t mean much – denials are common place.
B) doesn’t mean Sullivan didn’t seek out NJD, only that NJD didn’t ask Sullivan for permission to talk to Sullivan,
C) may be true, but that wouldn’t mean that discussions are occurring about a trade.
I do have my Champaign already on ice for that most wonderful day.
Hey Other Rick,
Regarding a potential undercurrent between Dubas and Sully. This is pure surmising on my part and has no basis whatsoever in any factual reports. But I wonder if Dubas didn’t force Sully’s hand on certain personnel decisions.
For example, John Ludvig is decidedly not a Sully-type player, yet he got a fairly extensive look. Perhaps because Dubas went to the trouble of claiming him from Florida?
Likewise, I get the sense Sully wants little to do with Sam Poulin, perhaps because of his lack of speed. Yet Dubas extended Sam.
Again, I could be reading tea leaves that aren’t there. But it does make me wonder if all is hunky dory between GM and coach.
Rick