Penguins Update: Gold for Sully

To say the past year hasn’t been the best or kindest for former Penguins coach Mike Sullivan is an understatement of the highest magnitude.

After a decade at the Penguins’ helm, the two-time Cup winning coach and the team parted ways last April. While some reported the divorce was mutual, others closer to the situation suggested that Sullivan was, indeed, fired by POHO/GM Kyle Dubas.

The Marshfield, Massachusetts native appeared to land on his feet within the week when he accepted an offer to coach the Rangers, a prestigious gig to be sure but one with plenty of pressure to win.

As we all know, appearances can be deceiving. The Rangers are much like Sully’s latter Penguins squads in terms of make-up, a team with an aging core and little in the way of promotable young talent. Instead of overseeing a glorious turnaround for a team two seasons removed from a Presidents’ Trophy, Sully’s presided over a full-blown collapse.

Indeed, while the Pens have rebounded under rookie coach (and former Rangers assistant) Dan Muse, the last-in-the-Metro Rangers threw in the towel about a month ago and recently traded top scorer Artemi Panarin.

While putting on a brave public face, privately this has to be a bitter disappointment for the fiercely competitive coach.

Yesterday, Sully received a vindication of sorts when his Team USA conquered the powerhouse Canadians in a game for the ages to win Olympic gold. In the process, he became only the second coach in history to win a Stanley Cup and an Olympic gold medal, Canadian Mike Babcock being the other. Which makes Sully the first American-born coach to do the deed.

He and Team USA GM Bill Guerin did it their way, with an unconventional but gritty lineup tailored to go nose-to-nose with Canada. Bringing to mind a quote from the last USA coach to win a gold, Herb Brooks.

When questioned about his player selection process by assistant Craig Patrick, Brooks replied, “I’m not looking for the best players, Craig, I’m looking for the right ones.”

It’s fair to say that, like Brooks, Sully pushed his share of the right buttons. Including giving Jack Hughes, a washout during last season’s 4 Nations Face-Off, an expanded role.

He also had his own colorful spin on things.

Through Mollie Walker he was quoted as saying, “This team was built with personality in mind… There are whiskey drinkers and milk drinkers, and we got a lot of whiskey drinkers.”

Congratulations, Sully, on winning the gold.

A ‘Burgh Thing

I mentioned in my article yesterday that Team USA had a strong Pittsburgh connection. In addition to Sully and Guerin, assistant coaches John Hynes and David Quinn, assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald and forward Jake Guentzel all have ties to the Penguins.

In a round-about way, so does Hughes, who scored the gold medal goal in OT. The speedy ‘n’ skilled forward was taken first overall in the 2019 Entry Draft by former Pens GM Ray Shero.

Ironically, the Miracle on Ice crew, the last US team to win the gold, likewise had Pittsburgh roots. Pens draft picks Mark Johnson, son of future Pens coach Bob Johnson, and Buzz Schneider combined for three of the Team USA goals in the epic 4-3 win over the Soviets.

Patrick was the architect of the first black-and-gold Cup winners and Brooks would later coach the Pens. In addition, defenseman Mike Ramsey would also play in the ‘Burgh.

Sid’s Status

As of this post, the exact nature and severity of Sidney Crosby’s injury, believed to involve his right knee or leg, is still unknown. However, the fact that Sid didn’t play in the gold-medal game would appear to speak volumes.

In a separate yet perhaps related matter, forwards Avery Hayes and Joona Koppanen were held out of the Baby Pens’ 4-0 victory over Bridgeport yesterday.

Perhaps they’re ‘Burgh bound, which indicates Sid may miss some time.