Penguins Update: Is Mike Sullivan Showing His True Colors?

Prior to last night’s victory over Columbus, Mike Sullivan made a lineup decision that showed his true colors while serving to reinforce why he may no longer be the best choice to coach the team.

He sat rookie forward Jonathan Gruden in favor of grizzled veteran Jeff Carter.

To rewind the clock, Gruden was an inspirational and physical force during our surprise 4-1 victory over the Hurricanes on Tuesday night. After driving for five hours to join the team, the 23-year-old forward dished out four hits in a shade over nine minutes of ice time, including a tooth-rattler on Jack Drury. Swapped punches with Stefan Noesen in a follow-up scrap, too.

Along with linemates Sam Poulin and Jesse Puljujärvi, Gruden provided some desperately needed fire and spit.

So how did our coach reward him?

Parked him in the press box.

I can’t imagine for two seconds how demotivating and disheartening that is for a young player. You’re darned if you do (play well) and darned if you don’t.

On the flip side, and this isn’t meant to knock Carter, who I think has done a really good job for us this season in a reduced role. But I see absolutely no sense of urgency to reinsert big Jeff, who’s likely a handful of games away from the end of an exemplary NHL career.

In fairness to Sullivan, with what I’m sure is the full support of ownership and POHO/GM Kyle Dubas, he’s still trying to prod this bunch into the playoffs. The longest of longshots at this stage. I’m certain he’s going with the lineup he feels gives him the best shot at achieving that aim. Hence dressing Carter over Gruden.

Whether that should be the goal is another matter entirely. While FSG didn’t sink $900 million into the team to support an also-ran, if a miracle occurs and the Pens somehow squeak into the postseason they’re sure to get annihilated by an Eastern Conference heavy. Not to mention playing themselves out of a protected top-ten pick in the Entry Draft in the process.

In my mind, if there’s ever a time to play a kid like Gruden it’s now.

These are the types of choices that have come to define the Sullivan era since the Cup seasons. Veterans over all, with the development of kids taking a backseat and sometimes no seat at all.

Nor does Sully, a clean playing and determined defensive specialist during his career, seem to have any real feel or appreciation for how physical play and players like Gruden can provide a needed ignition source and spark. Especially now that the team can’t rely on scoring a ton of goals to provide that lift.

In a somewhat related issue, did you notice the dour expression on our coach’s face when Poulin was whistled off for tripping? Daggers. Granted, it wasn’t a great penalty to take. But if looks could kill, Sam would be pushing up daisies right now.

I’m surprised he wasn’t stapled to the bench after that. Actually, he kind of was. The rookie forward logged 9:01 of ice time, the second lowest total on the team among the forwards. Puljujärvi received the least amount of ice time (8:40) after scoring goals in consecutive games.

Meanwhile, Carter registered 14:12 of ice time.

The beat goes on.

I wrote this a couple of weeks ago and I’ll repeat it now. With all due respect to the work he did with then-youngsters like Bryan Rust, Conor Sheary and Matt Murray when he first arrived, I don’t know if I trust Sullivan to successfully develop our current crop of kids.