Post-Game Talk: Jets vs Pens, shot down in flames

[Icarium]

Isn't it curious how teams with new coaches like the Devils and the Jets are doing so well? Hell, even freaking John Hynes seems to be doing okay in his first season at a given team. Must be a coincidence and we'd better keep Sully until he is 73 at least.

Also, Sullivan is so good at talking a lot without saying anything meaningful that I keep asking myself why he isn't in politics rather than waste his time with hockey.

 

[Andy99]

Utah has three former Pens on D in Maatta, Cole and Bortuzzo…wanna bet they all play D better than the current iteration? Lol

 

[The Old Master]

I like both players, but I love Porter Martone.

you are not alone.

 

[The Old Master]

https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/3136498

Penguins' Sullivan not concerned about job security​

if they are going to pay you for the next 100 years, why care if you need to work for it.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/3136498

Penguins' Sullivan not concerned about job security​

Why would he be concerned? Ownership looks at him like a son. Only way he gets fired is if FSG sells the club within the next couple of weeks.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

On a positive note, it seems it took Mike Sullivan's complete ineptitude as a head coach to unite this board.

We are one! United we stand.

 

[AuroraBorealis]

On a positive note, it seems it took Mike Sullivan's complete ineptitude as a head coach to unite this board.

We are one! United we stand.

Well we're barely talking about the players anymore. There's much less to disagree on.

 

[Pancakes]

If Dubas did want to fire Sullivan then after tonight there is a window as the Pens don't play again until Wednesday.

Probably not happening though

 

[Jag68Sid87]

If Sullivan wanted to fire Dubas...

 

[HandshakeLine]

Just curious, those of you who were Sullivan diehards in the off-season, what do you think when you read interviews like... that?

 

[DesertedPenguin]

If Dubas did want to fire Sullivan then after tonight there is a window as the Pens don't play again until Wednesday.

Probably not happening though

I think Dubas will only fire Sullivan during the season if he feels that value is dropping on trade pieces. If Pettersson and others are seeing their value drop because of how they're playing under Sullivan, that could prompt the change.

There is another wrinkle - with Vellucci out, the only other internal interim coach candidate is Quinn. Dubas might prefer Vellucci as the interim rather than Quinn, who is Sullivan's friend and also responsible for this atrocious defense.

Regardless, Dubas would want to do a full coaching search. Mike Vellucci and Dan Quinn are not legit candidates to be anything more than caretaker coaches, and Kirk MacDonald in WBS isn't an NHL coach yet.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Just curious, those of you who were Sullivan diehards in the off-season, what do you think when you read interviews like... that?

It's classic PR nothingness. He did it with Seth from the Trib, too. The Pens PR staff understands there is heat. So does Sullivan. So they agree to a one-on-one interview with someone local. Sullivan - or any coach - utters some platitudes, shares their passion for the organization, demonstrates how driven they are to fix it.

It's not much different than a politician or high profile business leader being under fire. They're using it as an opportunity to try to show they hear the complaints, but they're working hard and are determined to fix the problem.

Doesn't matter who the coach is. Stuff like this is superficial and goes in one ear and out the other.

There is nothing Sullivan can say that will change his status. Well, I guess he could go on a racist rant or something. But realistically, his future is tied to actions. Eventually, if he doesn't win, he'll be gone. Dubas and FSG will have a breaking point. We'll just have to see what it is.

 

[HandshakeLine]

It's classic PR nothingness. He did it with Seth from the Trib, too. The Pens PR staff understands there is heat. So does Sullivan. So they agree to a one-on-one interview with someone local. Sullivan - or any coach - utters some platitudes, shares their passion for the organization, demonstrates how driven they are to fix it.

It's not much different than a politician or high profile business leader being under fire. They're using it as an opportunity to try to show they hear the complaints, but they're working hard and are determined to fix the problem.

Doesn't matter who the coach is. Stuff like this is superficial and goes in one ear and out the other.

There is nothing Sullivan can say that will change his status. Well, I guess he could go on a racist rant or something. But realistically, his future is tied to actions. Eventually, if he doesn't win, he'll be gone. Dubas and FSG will have a breaking point. We'll just have to see what it is.

But he didn't demonstrate any of that?

He explicitly refused to show how drive he and his staff was to fix anything?

 

[Icarium]

I just saw Penguins fans on reddit claiming that it would be "indecent" to chant "Fire Sullivan" and that he is a "legend".

Humanity was a mistake.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

But he didn't demonstrate any of that?

He explicitly refused to show how drive he and his staff was to fix anything?

People in this position usually don't. It's words, not actions. It's desperation.

 

[ZorkEnchanter]

I'm not a glutton for punishment like you guys but man, I feel like these highlights are just on re-run at this point.

I've seen this kind of defensive structure for 5-6 years. We just don't care to defend.

FSG/Dubas don't seem to care at this point.

 

[Pancakes]

I think Dubas will only fire Sullivan during the season if he feels that value is dropping on trade pieces. If Pettersson and others are seeing their value drop because of how they're playing under Sullivan, that could prompt the change.

There is another wrinkle - with Vellucci out, the only other internal interim coach candidate is Quinn. Dubas might prefer Vellucci as the interim rather than Quinn, who is Sullivan's friend and also responsible for this atrocious defense.

Regardless, Dubas would want to do a full coaching search. Mike Vellucci and Dan Quinn are not legit candidates to be anything more than caretaker coaches, and Kirk MacDonald in WBS isn't an NHL coach yet.

I'm sure Dubas would prefer patience but when you have Sid pouting and getting into fights on ice it makes me wonder if Sullivan's days are actually numbered.

And I don't even feel like the Pens have hit rock bottom yet. There's a potential for things to get uglier imo.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

https://www.thescore.com/nhl/news/3136498

"My main focus is trying to do what I do every day, applying a certain process I'm comfortable with to win games."


Yeah, we know.

 

[vodeni]

It's classic PR nothingness. He did it with Seth from the Trib, too. The Pens PR staff understands there is heat. So does Sullivan. So they agree to a one-on-one interview with someone local. Sullivan - or any coach - utters some platitudes, shares their passion for the organization, demonstrates how driven they are to fix it.

It's not much different than a politician or high profile business leader being under fire. They're using it as an opportunity to try to show they hear the complaints, but they're working hard and are determined to fix the problem.

Doesn't matter who the coach is. Stuff like this is superficial and goes in one ear and out the other.

There is nothing Sullivan can say that will change his status. Well, I guess he could go on a racist rant or something. But realistically, his future is tied to actions. Eventually, if he doesn't win, he'll be gone. Dubas and FSG will have a breaking point. We'll just have to see what it is.

If he doesn’t win….did we just wake up after long nap (6 years)

 

[Zbynek]

I think Dubas will only fire Sullivan during the season if he feels that value is dropping on trade pieces. If Pettersson and others are seeing their value drop because of how they're playing under Sullivan, that could prompt the change.

There is another wrinkle - with Vellucci out, the only other internal interim coach candidate is Quinn. Dubas might prefer Vellucci as the interim rather than Quinn, who is Sullivan's friend and also responsible for this atrocious defense.

Regardless, Dubas would want to do a full coaching search. Mike Vellucci and Dan Quinn are not legit candidates to be anything more than caretaker coaches, and Kirk MacDonald in WBS isn't an NHL coach yet.

If you make the decision now, you don't go interim at all - you get the verbal agreement with Montgomery or whoever beforehand, and make the swap immediately.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I don't really care about Montgomery tbh. The important thing is the longer-term picture. Get somebody who isn't so repulsed by risk, get somebody who can/will coach youth and prospects. If that's Montgomery, so be it. If it's not, look elsewhere.

And I think (hope) they fire Sullivan after the season. Won't happen in season. Might not happen at all, even if they tumble to a top-3 pick and miss for the third year in a row by miles.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

If you make the decision now, you don't go interim at all - you get the verbal agreement with Montgomery or whoever beforehand, and make the swap immediately.

Hard disagree.

You want to find someone who is going to be able to last, not just provide a 2 year stint. That's the best course for the long-term health of the franchise.

Maybe that coach is Montgomery, but you need to do a full search with the full pool of candidates. Montgomery might be a good option, but maybe someone else is an even better fit.

This isn't a case where the Pens are desperate to win now. You can fire Sullivan, have Vellucci finish the season, and then do a full search in the spring.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

In a rare twitst, I agree with DP. It's not about getting the biggest name available, it's about getting the right fit for where this team's at moving forward. The here and now only matters with respect to how this team develops guys like McG, Broz, Brunicke, and whoever they land in the next few drafts.

If that right fit is Montgomery, cool. If it's not, oh well. Don't just sign someone for the sake of it because they have a recognizable name. That's how you end up with a Dubas instead of a Tulsky.

(Couldn't help it.)

 

[Andy99]

Too bad about Grz…he apparently needs a more serious injury before the coach will scratch him lol

 

[Pancakes]

In a rare twitst, I agree with DP. It's not about getting the biggest name available, it's about getting the right fit for where this team's at moving forward. The here and now only matters with respect to how this team develops guys like McG, Broz, Brunicke, and whoever they land in the next few drafts.

If that right fit is Montgomery, cool. If it's not, oh well. Don't just sign someone for the sake of it because they have a recognizable name. That's how you end up with a Dubas instead of a Tulsky.

(Couldn't help it.)

Montgomery does have an impressive coaching resume though. If they fired Sullivan and asked Montgomery and he said he actually wants to be here then I'd be pretty okay with him as the choice.

I wonder if Montgomery would even want to bother with the Pens though. He might be more inclined to wait for an opening from a team with more of a chance of being good in the short term.