Has Mike Sullivan Been Fired yet

[Victor Z]

The good news: Mike Sullivan becomes the new head coach of the New York Rangers!!!!

The bad news: David Quinn becomes the new head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins!!!!


The bad news isn't so bad as long as the plan is to tank in the near future and then hire a coach who ISN'T a proven failure, when the team is ready to stop tanking. But FSG/Dubas will never admit to tanking on purpose because, ya know, gotta have butts in those seats at PPG even if you have to basically give away the tickets (it's about optics, not necessarily revenue) and even if those butts are doing nothing but twiddling the 3 hours away on their iPhones.

Plus, FSG/Dubas aren't smart enough anyway to actually bite the bullet and do the right thing.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

So add Chris Johnston to the list of people connecting Mike Sullivan to the NYR. It seems to be everywhere. I read a NYR insider report suggesting Drury has wanted Sullivan for a long time now, and that he was told Sullivan is not available last summer. This time, it almost feels as if Dubas WANTS to move on from Sullivan, but since he said that Sullivan will be back if he wants to be back, he has no say in the matter.

What I find hilarious is that just as Johnston is saying the NYR want Sullivan, he also suggests that the NYR are looking for more structure when choosing their next coach.

Talk about an oxymoron!

Do you have a link to the Chris Johnston report?

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I'd be stoked as all hell if the Rangers poached Sullivan, but we'll see. We heard the same kinda rumors with the Rangers as well as the Devils in the past.

 

[Khelandros]

I'd be stoked as all hell if the Rangers poached Sullivan, but we'll see. We heard the same kinda rumors with the Rangers as well as the Devils in the past.

But the Devils were the Devils. This is THE NEW YORK RANGERS. The Boston of New York State.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

It's up to Sullivan. This team's too cowardly and/or stupid to do the simplest and easiest thing a team can do and fire their coach, so he's here until he chooses not to be imo. I hope the Rangers get permission to speak to him and sell him hard on all that O6 aura bullshit. Oh, and give him a shitload of money. That's important.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

Do you have a link to the Chris Johnston report?

I listened to his podcast this morning. The Chris Johnston Show.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I have no doubt in my mind that Sullivan would revive the Rangers for a short period of time. Hey, it is the new coach bump (you know, one of the MAIN reasons why he should have been fired long, long ago).

I would gladly take a late-round first in the Pettersson deal, plus 3-4 years of in-division Sullivan.

Hopefully, he is still their coach when we play them in the playoffs the next time.

Of course, none of this is reality so I will wake up from this dream at some point here.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I mean I've been saying for years that the only thing that will save us from Sullivan is Sullivan himself and his ego.

I'm honestly a little surprised he hasn't left. Most nights he looks about as happy and comfortable behind the bench as someone taking a bubble bath with their grandma.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

I listened to his podcast this morning. The Chris Johnston Show.

Thanks, I'll have to listen.

 

[3074326]

I talked to a Steelers fan tonight at a draft party and he was like "I don't know why Pittsburgh fans are so obsessed with firing Mike Tomlin when Mike Sullivan still has a job"

Pretty sure he had no idea I was actually a Penguins fan, considering I live in Columbus. Thought it was interesting. lol

 

[bambamcam4ever]

You and I have never seen eye to eye on the Karlsson trade, but if Dubas turns around and trades him NOW, then I am done with this GM too (to go along with the coaching staff and ownership group). The blacklist is getting longer and longer!

You don't trade a point-per-game defenseman after a 53-point season. If his words in the media are a way of motivating Karlsson, fine. But if he truly goes through with a Karlsson trade, he has almost no chance of winning that deal. The only Karlsson deal that helps us is zero retention and getting back a quality center prospect or LD prospect.

Change coaches. See what Karlsson can do without the clones behind the bench, and THEN move on if it does not work. I would bet the farm that all Karlsson needs is a coaching change to get back to 75-80 points.

Karlsson is a LOT better than Mikael Granlund, and all Granlund needed was to get away from this coach to get back to what he was. It is the same thing with Karlsson, only with an even greater improvement once he leaves this coach.

But we will blame Karlsson and send him on his way. Sad.

Karlsson is about to be 35 and has paced for 60+ once in the last 6 years.

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Sell me why the Ducks shouldn't want Sullivan so I can sell other Ducks fans. Some people are leaning him and I trust you all in your distain.

You should want him. He's a good coach. The Penguins may be aided by a new voice but the team is so old it doesn't matter at this point anyway.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

So add Chris Johnston to the list of people connecting Mike Sullivan to the NYR. It seems to be everywhere. I read a NYR insider report suggesting Drury has wanted Sullivan for a long time now, and that he was told Sullivan is not available last summer. This time, it almost feels as if Dubas WANTS to move on from Sullivan, but since he said that Sullivan will be back if he wants to be back, he has no say in the matter.

What I find hilarious is that just as Johnston is saying the NYR want Sullivan, he also suggests that the NYR are looking for more structure when choosing their next coach.

Talk about an oxymoron!

Well the Rangers were the last team to trade for a coach so why not them doing it again. Let them Doc Rivers this shit and allow the Penguins to finally move the f*** on.

With our luck, watch FSG say "This team needs a culture overhaul" and hire Torts.

 

[Penguin Suited Up]

I talked to a Steelers fan tonight at a draft party and he was like "I don't know why Pittsburgh fans are so obsessed with firing Mike Tomlin when Mike Sullivan still has a job"

Pretty sure he had no idea I was actually a Penguins fan, considering I live in Columbus. Thought it was interesting. lol

Probably because Sullivan has much more recent success than Tomlin. Sullivan has his issues, but the Steelers’ infatuation with Tomlin has been on another level for a long time.

 

[LOGiK]

I talked to a Steelers fan tonight at a draft party and he was like "I don't know why Pittsburgh fans are so obsessed with firing Mike Tomlin when Mike Sullivan still has a job"

Really? He has no reason why people are obsessed with parting from extreme mediocrity for extending lengths?
Head Coach is NOT a position you let someone get comfortable. Also it is a position where if you fail to win --- AT THE LEAST, get to the finals and lose for whatever reason --- for a period of time no greater than 3-5 years. You get released.

Pittsburgh is a City hoping the loyalty of the viewers / supporters will keep buying tickets and merch.... and they are... for now...

 

[Lomez]

Out of curiosity, given the current state of the Pens, who would be a good replacement for MS should he bolt for the glamor of the Big City?

 

[Ragamuffin Gunner]

Honestly, why would Sully want to stick with a team that's going nowhere?

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Out of curiosity, given the current state of the Pens, who would be a good replacement for MS should he bolt for the glamor of the Big City?

A GOOD replacement would be someone from the wide pool of candidates in not just this league but promising younger coaches too on their way up through the ranks and they would be fully vetted with a rigorous screening and interview process that takes as long as it takes to get the best guy for where this team is.

This team? This team will just promote Quinn.

 

[Khelandros]

Out of curiosity, given the current state of the Pens, who would be a good replacement for MS should he bolt for the glamor of the Big City?

BBQ Bruce

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

BBQ Bruce

If nothing else, he’d probably make us fun to watch again at least…

 

[SEALBound]

Out of curiosity, given the current state of the Pens, who would be a good replacement for MS should he bolt for the glamor of the Big City?

As a 5 year tranitionary coach, I would say Rick Tocchet (IF he comes available). If not, it's tough to say. Quinn would be the obvious vomit inducing choice but I would also listen to Kirk MacDonald from WBS as he's seemed to go a good job down there and he has experience with a bunch of these kids. I also wouldn't shy away from looking at a higher end NCAA or CHL coach that is on the cusp of the next step.

Fact is, players today are different than the ones of 20 years ago (which includes Sid). I think these older dinosaurs like Torts are gonna find themselves on the outside looking in wondering why their complete inability to relate to young players is a driving force as to why they can't get another coaching gig.

BBQ Bruce

Ya know, I actually thought about that. If you are looking for that transitionary coach who can spark a wilting flower of a team...BBQ Bruce wouldn't be terrible.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Out of curiosity, given the current state of the Pens, who would be a good replacement for MS should he bolt for the glamor of the Big City?

It'll be someone not currently on staff, with a small exception for Kirk Macdonald. Then again, he's going to need to win at a higher level than he has previously to get a chance as NHL coach.

Dubas would do a wide search to find someone who fits what he wants to do. I've personally hoped for someone like Tampa assistant Jeff Halpern, but it may very well be someone who has at least some ties to Dubas previously, because that's how the NHL and a lot of pro leagues work.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

Honestly, why would Sully want to stick with a team that's going nowhere?

Familiarity, comfort, lack of ambition, and a stupid amount of power for a head coach. The most in the league.
Plus he loves coaching Sid, ofc.

It's over for you as a coach when you're satisfied with your career accomplishments. His fire went out after losing in 2018. Body language and tone changed. Standards fell. And it's been a steady decline since.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

It'll be someone not currently on staff, with a small exception for Kirk Macdonald. Then again, he's going to need to win at a higher level than he has previously to get a chance as NHL coach.

Dubas would do a wide search to find someone who fits what he wants to do. I've personally hoped for someone like Tampa assistant Jeff Halpern, but it may very well be someone who has at least some ties to Dubas previously, because that's how the NHL and a lot of pro leagues work.

I agree- the next coach will certainly have Dubas ties

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Familiarity, comfort, lack of ambition, and a stupid amount of power for a head coach. The most in the league.
Plus he loves coaching Sid, ofc.

It's over for you as a coach when you're satisfied with your career accomplishments. His fire went out after losing in 2018. Body language and tone changed. Standards fell. And it's been a steady decline since.

Yeah. One of the great unsaid-but-understood secrets about NHL coaches is that they wend towards laziness if given the chance. And this team has given plenty of chances. Doubly so if they find some success early and get it in their CTE-addled brains that they have it all figured out.

I think MOST execs and GMs know this hence the perennially hot seats for most head coaches. Not here but... most.