General Off-Day Thread (bitch about Mike Sullivan)

[PamBallam]

Geno says he's not retiring after this year despite some local speculation from the likes of Mark Madden.

Also, he only wants to play for the Penguins and does not plan to play professionally in Russia.

Evgeni Malkin won’t retire after this season, will play only for Penguins: ‘This is my only team’

Malkin dispelled rumors that said he'd forgo his final NHL season to return to his hometown team in Russia.

www.nytimes.com

Hopefully Geno stays stateside and just spends time with his son, chilling on beaches and stuff.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Interesting note there that Malkin hasn't decided whether he's retiring after next year. I don't mind them going on a year to year basis with Malkin and Crosby, but I really think they need to put Malkin with Crosby if they're going to do that.

Trade Rakell in the off-season, move Malkin up to Crosby's line and just keep giving Crosby and Malkin 1 year deals until they retire.

 

[eXile3]

Rough year for Geno. Injured and believe he's also going through a divorce?

He’s 38 and has had multiple surgeries. Outside of Gordie Howe not too many players are going to be productive at that age.

 

[Randy Butternubs]

Yes please to pairing up Sid & Geno on a line.

Let Mac Swanson center line two.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yes please to pairing up Sid & Geno on a line.

Let Mac Swanson center line two.

Yeah like I just posted in the salary cap thread, just keep Malkin-Crosby-Rust together until they decide to retire and rebuild the rest of the team around them.

It maximizes Malkin's value and also gives you an easy out for justifying trading Rakell. I know some people have said they want to keep Rakell to help Crosby produce more, but sliding Malkin up to L1 to play with Crosby eliminates that argument entirely.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

I am just reiterating for clarification that we are all in agreement that it is possible to develop a player who is an AHL/NHL tweener, by making them a full-time NHLer. It is also possible to develop a player who is an NHLer on the 4th line, by making them into a player who can play further up the lineup.

I also agree that Hextall and Dubas have not brought in developable players to the same extent that Rutherford did. I do wonder what Beauvillier would be like with another year here. I think (and hope) that we trade him, but I wouldn't mind if he signed here again next season on another one-year contract. He's still young enough that something interesting could feasibly made of him.

 

[molon labe]

Hopefully Geno stays stateside and just spends time with his son, chilling on beaches and stuff.

Pretty sure he's into the South Beach lifestyle. I've seen several pics over the years of him fishing and stuff.

He's wealthy enough to travel back and forth to visit family - start/sponsor youth programs etc. I'd be shocked if he doesn't "main" his Florida property.

 

[BusinessGoose]

Gonna make a geno character in GTA6

 

[Andy99]

“More than any other reason, though, Sullivan remains in Pittsburgh because of his bond with Crosby. The captain doesn’t want to play for any other coach. To Sullivan’s credit, he wants to stay in Pittsburgh for the duration. He wants to be running the show when the Penguins are good again.

Last summer, the New Jersey Devils wanted Sullivan to be their head coach. It wasn’t a particularly well-guarded secret. The Devils are young and loaded with talent. Newark is much closer to Sullivan’s native Boston, where he could be closer to his children and grandchildren. It would have been a perfectly understandable move.

He wasn’t interested, though. His loyalty is to the Penguins and, more to the point, to Crosby.“

Bond between Sidney Crosby, Mike Sullivan transcends 4 Nations Face-Off

Crosby and Sullivan will be in the unfamiliar position of facing one another for the second time in five days tonight.

www.nytimes.com

For those minimizing Sid’s role in keeping the failed coach here lol…

 

[BusinessGoose]

I don't sub to NYT

Do they have any direct sources for the conclusions?

 

[SomeDude]

I don't sub to NYT

Do they have any direct sources for the conclusions?

Probably the same source that quoted Sid’s “That’s not how we do things in Pittsburgh” aka Rob Rossi’s fan fiction.

 

[Icarium]

To Sullivan’s credit, he wants to stay in Pittsburgh for the duration. He wants to be running the show when the Penguins are good again.

But the Penguins can only be good enough once they get rid of him. Talk about Catch 22.