Mike Sullivan is the worst Head Coach in the league now and the Penguins don’t care.

[Gurglesons]

Because if they didn't have a coach they'd likely hire someone like Rick Tocchet.

Yeah that’d be awful!

 

[The Panther]

It's almost unbelievable how bad the Penguins have been against Edmonton the past three seasons.

Record vs. Edmonton (2022-2024):
0 - 6
Goal differential:
9 - 33

No wonder Crosby was frustrated and gooning it up in the third period...

But seriously, the amazing thing to me about the Penguins is the lack of defensive acumen. And it doesn't seem to be a 'systems' problem, exactly, but rather a lack of effort, frankly. They just make it incredibly easy for teams to possess and re-posses the puck in the offensive zone. Forwards (like Malkin, in the games I've seen) are just floating when the other team has the puck, putting huge strain on a very non-physical D-core. Letang playing the worst hockey of his life isn't helping, nor is the abysmal power-play.

I will say this: Dubas may indeed be bad, but it's far too soon to judge him. All GMs are going to make at least a few bad moves every few years. I think you need to wait at least two full seasons before you can even start to judge the GM.

 

[RickyLafleur]

Couldn't happen to a better team.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

But seriously, the amazing thing to me about the Penguins is the lack of defensive acumen. And it doesn't seem to be a 'systems' problem, exactly, but rather a lack of effort, frankly. They just make it incredibly easy for teams to possess and re-posses the puck in the offensive zone. Forwards (like Malkin, in the games I've seen) are just floating when the other team has the puck, putting huge strain on a very non-physical D-core. Letang playing the worst hockey of his life isn't helping, nor is the abysmal power-play.

I will say this: Dubas may indeed be bad, but it's far too soon to judge him. All GMs are going to make at least a few bad moves every few years. I think you need to wait at least two full seasons before you can even start to judge the GM.

Yeah, it definitely looks more like an attitude issue at this point in time. The team is just demoralized and you can see it in their play. When Lars Eller has the most jump on the team, that's a pretty big red flag.

Seems like there's a legitimate risk for the opponent to score every time they enter the zone. There's just no willpower throughout most of the roster. I don't blame Sid for gearing down a bit, he's carried the team on his back pretty much this entire season and I can imagine it's weighing on him heavily.

 

[TooManyHumans]

They have completely quit on Sullivan. It's insane that he's still the coach. He needs to move on. I'm sure he could have success elsewhere but it's clear he's reached his expiration date in Pittsburgh.

 

[dr robbie]

We rewarded Sullivan for not winning playoff series multiple years in a row with an extension. This paid off with failure to even make the playoffs 2 years in a row now. We have no one to blame but ourselves. We knew Sullivan expired years ago, but either someone has some crazy dirt on someone or our country-club organization has reached unprecedented levels. It doesn't make sense and it can't really either without some other unknown explanation, because it's not based on performance or the eye test.

This team got a taste of early golf last season and now it seems like that's all they want. I don't expect them to be great - heck, I didn't really even expect them to make the post season. But I wanted something. Maybe some exciting games? Some blow outs, but some goals at least. But it's like they have no care whatsoever. No pulse. No effort. I am more nervous about a SHG when we get a powerplay than a PPG. That... that's not normal.

 

[Voight]

Riding it out with the core. For some reason the Penguins decided they could not live with any of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang ever playing for another team and they would rather just suck for years with them then allow it to happen.

Yea those Malkin/Letang extensions were not a great idea.

 

[Voight]

Serious ask. If it’s not KDs decision why is he even the GM?

(I agree, Sullivan shouldn’t be the coach.)

Dubas was hired as POHO and said he would hire a GM.... then decided not too, wanted the job for himself.

 

[njdevil26]

They have completely quit on Sullivan. It's insane that he's still the coach. He needs to move on. I'm sure he could have success elsewhere but it's clear he's reached his expiration date in Pittsburgh.

We were saying the same about Ruff here in NJ since December. Took way too long to fire him.

Do you think he's actually a bad coach or just his time with this group is at an end? I ask because of the Pitt connection... if he's available I can see Fitz going after him to coach in NJ.

 

[nbwingsfan]

I don't think many people realize how Kyle Dubas operates.

Kyle Dubas isn't the type of guy who likes to take responsibility or accountability.

He doesn't like having a microscope on him and he doesn't like having his performance as a General Manager scrutinized.

The moment he fires Sullivan and brings in his own guy is the same moment that he will no longer have "poor coaching" to use as an excuse for why Pittsburgh is a bad team.

Once he fires Sullivan and brings in his own guy, then Dubas decision-making will be put under the miscroscope, and this is the same microscope he likes to avoid.

Because if his own brought-in coach can't turn the Penguins into a good team, then Dubas will be questioned as to why he decided on this coach.

Dubas will also be questioned about his roster construction and personnel transactions if his hand-picked coach can't solve the Penguins problems, because then the criticism will divert to the roster.

The longer Dubas keeps Sullivan around, the longer he extends his own "grace period" or "honeymoon phase" as it relates to his employment as the Penguins GM.

People complaining about Sullivan being a very bad coach is exactly what Dubas wants, because it keeps the attention away from him.

Sullivan being criticized as a very bad coach distracts people from seeing the awful job Dubas has done in his 1st season as Penguins GM, such as acquiring Erik Karlsson at his terrible contract and thinking that the Penguins were an Erik Karlsson away from contending.

Keeping Sullivan extends Dubas job security.

Do you have any proof to your claims of knowing the inner workings of Dubas decision making or are you just saying this because he’s not a Leaf anymore

 

[tfwnogf]

sheldon keefe isn't available yet

 

[Sypher04]

So Dubas went back in time, and forced Burkle/FSG to hand out extensions to Sullivan?

Honestly, reading some of this stuff, you'd swear Kyle Dubas is the love child of Rasputin and George Soros. Like he's some brilliant mastermind boogeyman who manipulates everyone around him and secretly controls the axis the world spins on. He might be everything that angry Leaf fans imagine, but the idea that this is part of some massive sinister plan to let him forever escape blame is insane.

Sullivan won two cups in Pittsburgh, and now ownership believes the sun rises and sets out of his ass. In seven years he has now outlived 3 GMs and one POHO. He has the keys to the castle. The job is probably his for life until he gets bored. He's got some fools under his spell, and Dubas may or may not be one of them

It’s especially confusing when you look at his actions in Toronto which don’t align with this ‘takes no blame’ narrative whatsoever

Not only did he fire Babcock very early in his tenure putting the focus on his own pick for coach, but he stood by his guys year after year as they repeatedly failed to repay his faith in them with success and consistently told an entire room full of rabid Toronto media he was ultimately most responsible for the team not getting it done

 

[PaulD]

Sullivan needs to shoulder a lot of the blame and should be fired this off-season.

I could probably come up with over 10 issues that are squarely in him for why this team underachieve this season, but, the biggest reason to drop him is

HE DOESNT KNOW HOW TO DEVELOP YOUNGER PLAYERS.

For a team wanting to get younger, who will need to start injecting guys like Yager, Broz, Poulin, ponomarev, koivunen, Pickering, and blomqvist into the line up in the next 2 seasons, Sullivan is not the guy to lead this team.

Not a single one of those players, or anyone drafted in the near future, will meet their potential with these idiots coaching them.

The most certainly won't

 

[banks]

I was a fan of Dubas when he was with the Leafs. So I don't say any of this as a hater.

But I was not a huge fan of the Karlsson trade when he got to PIT. I don't know why he still hasn't fired Sullivan. And now it looks like he's designing the demise of the Crosby era Penguins. If Guentzel isn't in the plan, then what in the world is the plan?

Dubas has been trash with PIT.

 

[SomeOldDude]

PIT offers:
- Sullivan

NJ offers:
- Green
- 7th Round pick
- 4 Taylor Ham Pork Rolls

You had me at Taylor Ham Pork Rolls!

 

[bambamcam4ever]

Ek65 is exactly the guy you need to increase your offensive tempo for 25+ minutes a night BUT YOUR PLAYERS AND COACHING NEEDS TO BUY IN. He has to be the playmaker, everyone else needs to stop thinking of trying to make a play.

If every other player has to buy in to your play style for you to be effective, you probably aren't as good a player as you think. I'm not going to mention what other noteworthy player that may also apply to.

 

[sxvnert]

It’s especially confusing when you look at his actions in Toronto which don’t align with this ‘takes no blame’ narrative whatsoever

Not only did he fire Babcock very early in his tenure putting the focus on his own pick for coach, but he stood by his guys year after year as they repeatedly failed to repay his faith in them with success and consistently told an entire room full of rabid Toronto media he was ultimately most responsible for the team not getting it done

This is deja vu all over again. Instead of oilers fan with a shit eating grin after "stealing Campbell away", now they're seeing what dubas is really about.. Apparently the bs about his family wasn't enough of a red flag.

 

[Zbynek]

It’s especially confusing when you look at his actions in Toronto which don’t align with this ‘takes no blame’ narrative whatsoever

Not only did he fire Babcock very early in his tenure putting the focus on his own pick for coach, but he stood by his guys year after year as they repeatedly failed to repay his faith in them with success and consistently told an entire room full of rabid Toronto media he was ultimately most responsible for the team not getting it done

No, we're hearing the same shit in his pressers. "I take full responsibility" is already a broken record in his <8 months in Pittsburgh. I trust Dubas less every time I see his face in the press conferences. I think the real story here is he went from one overlord (Shanahan) to another (FSG). Ultimately, he's a puppet - trained like a politician to lie through his teeth in front of the camera.

 

[HTFN]

Yeah, it definitely looks more like an attitude issue at this point in time. The team is just demoralized and you can see it in their play. When Lars Eller has the most jump on the team, that's a pretty big red flag.

Seems like there's a legitimate risk for the opponent to score every time they enter the zone. There's just no willpower throughout most of the roster. I don't blame Sid for gearing down a bit, he's carried the team on his back pretty much this entire season and I can imagine it's weighing on him heavily.

... what?

Not like I didn't just watch him for years or anything... what? All the guy does is try.

 

[Machinehead]

It’s a Sad Day for Hockey.

Ok, it's not.

I'm sorry that happened to you, but c'mon now.

 

[kingsfan28]

He's gonna be the Kings next coach after he's fired....bank on it.

 

[karltonian]

If every other player has to buy in to your play style for you to be effective, you probably aren't as good a player as you think. I'm not going to mention what other noteworthy player that may also apply to.

I mean you can drive the bus as hard as you like but if the kids just fart around when you get there, it's gonna look like ... well like it does now. They are absolutely squandering an elite zone entry specialist by tossing the puck around.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

... what?

Not like I didn't just watch him for years or anything... what? All the guy does is try.

Absolutely, he’s a great player and competes hard. I didn’t mean it negatively toward him. I guess “jump” wasn’t really the right word to use.

I just meant when he’s outshining pretty much everyone on the team not named Crosby on a nightly basis I don’t think it’s a great sign. He’s a role player and I just don’t think it’s a great sign that he’s leading the charge offensively just about every night.

 

[Extra Texture]

Honestly if they fire Sullivan, just like how the Pens went through a carosel of General Managers, they'll find someone a lot worse.

I have a prediction that Crosby ends up a coach/GM of this team at some point.

Because if they didn't have a coach they'd likely hire someone like Rick Tocchet.

I'm sorry, this is a funny joke without the right?

 

[Extra Texture]

It’s especially confusing when you look at his actions in Toronto which don’t align with this ‘takes no blame’ narrative whatsoever

Not only did he fire Babcock very early in his tenure putting the focus on his own pick for coach, but he stood by his guys year after year as they repeatedly failed to repay his faith in them with success and consistently told an entire room full of rabid Toronto media he was ultimately most responsible for the team not getting it done

No no, it cant be. I mean, all that makes logical sense of course, but I heard it was because Little Kyle demanded they sign more Greyhounds, and when they couldnt he threw a tantrum like a little baby and knocked over his sippy cup when they didnt, yadda yadda yadda, and that's why the Leafs imploded in the playoffs over and over again.