Is PIT's team-building model flawed?

[BobCole]

I'm still not a fan of first time coaches.

Sullivan is not a first time NHL coach.

 

[xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Yup.

 

[Ugene Magic]

Sullivan is not a first time NHL coach.

You are right, I keep forgetting that. I have NYR's stuck in my head as a assistant.

 

[meangene]

I don't believe the Pens have committed to the above style for years at all. If they did, they've been doing a horrible job of building the team to follow that style up until now, at least.

Until this year, when Rutherford has made a distinct effort to make the team faster, what moves would you say were made in order to build the team around a style that is "more focused on speed"?

You said they've "committed to this style for years", but over the last 5 years, I can only come up with a few moves made to get faster, and they've pretty much all been made by Rutherford in the past year.

They've committed to a North-South up-tempo game since 2010. It was the only reason guys like TK, Vitale, etc. lasted as long as they did, all can go very fast straight up and down the ice.

 

[UnderratedBrooks44]

no one way is right.......lots of ways to do it....you just need to do it well. imo

I would say there are "a few" ways to do it, but overall pretty much this. You can have a fast, skilled team but they can't be too soft. You can draft 100 defensemen and trade some of them, but you have to pull it all off on the front AND back end of the plan.

 

[Coastal Kev]

Yes.

 

[Freeptop]

They've committed to a North-South up-tempo game since 2010. It was the only reason guys like TK, Vitale, etc. lasted as long as they did, all can go very fast straight up and down the ice.

And then also went after guys like Brendan Morrow, Doug Murray, Rob Scuderi, etc. So clearly they weren't all that committed to it.

 

[Jaded-Fan]

It ain't the model.

It's the execution.

I do not have to reiterate the mistakes made, in coaching and personnel decisions both front office and player, and development.

But suffice it to say had the Pens executed better they would be the ones holding multiple cups right now.

Never in the course of human events was so little done with so much given to them.

 

[Tweed]

How do we NOT be built around a two elite center model?

Our model is the product of bingo balls, and the incredibly strong theory that "It's a bad idea to trade away generational talent."

To answer the question... I think No, it's not flawed.