Confirmed with Link: Penguins and Mike Sullivan part ways

[IcedCapp]

is this Robert Rossi ? What a normal-sounding question, jesus

 

[Jag68Sid87]

We do have to be honest, though. 1-2 years of Sid. 1 year of Geno. A terrible old team. This is not really a "coveted" position to want. I dont think top end coaches will be rushing to become a Pens coach.

So, let's NOT go after the "names" then.

Here is the current list of NHL head coaches who are in their FIRST stint with their first team:

Jon Cooper (TB)
Martin St. Louis (Mtl)
Spencer Carberry (Wsh)
Rod Brind'Amour (Car)
Jim Hiller (LA)
Ryan Warsofsky (SJ)
Kris Knoblauch (Edm)
Ryan Huska (Cgy)
Andre Tourigny (Uta)
Jared Bednar (Col)


That is a very good list of first-time coaching talent. Sure, there is also coaching talent among the castoffs and retreads, but you don't HAVE to go in that direction.

 

[GilbertSeinfeld]

Commented on this elsewhere, but take a look at that guy’s resume. Very sparse for someone who is the goaltending coach for an NHL team. It’s wild he’s been here as long as he has.

Hopefully Dubas can hire someone who actually has some experience because our goaltending prospects is one of the few bright spots of this organization right now.

I'd pay whatever money Mitch Korn wants.

 

[Sideline]

This is a valid point, but if I'm being charitable it's because he didn't feel he had enough to go on to fire Sullivan. But also, yeah, being able to make unilateral decisions is why he wanted the job in the first place, so he should do it!

He might have been worried about getting a new coach bump and ruining the tank

 

[HandshakeLine]

yeah he swatted madden away like a gnat

A very large, gelatinous gnat.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

The local media trying to imply that somehow Sid Crosby just won't be able to cope without the great Mike Sullivan is so on brand it hurts.

 

[HandshakeLine]

He might have been worried about getting a new coach bump and ruining the tank

Nah, I think he could have just fired the coach and promoted some jobber from our unimpressive ACs and we would have probably spiraled if we did it early enough. Even more effective if we traded away Rackell and Rust and EK during the TDL.

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Five years too late, but better late than never.

Good move Doobles.

It’s a great day for hockey.

 

[IcedCapp]

The local media trying to imply that somehow Sid Crosby just won't be able to cope without the great Mike Sullivan is so on brand it hurts.

any truth to the verified reports that Sid is renouncing his canadian citizenship and retiring from the nhl so he can be at Sullivan's side 24/7?

 

[Gurglesons]

I feel like that is the first time we've actually got a candid Dubas and to be honest he said all the right things.

 

[cookthebooks]

biggest takeaway for me from this presser is that i am happy sully is no longer a part of this organ EYE zation

 

[HandshakeLine]

The local media trying to imply that somehow Sid Crosby just won't be able to cope without the great Mike Sullivan is so on brand it hurts.

It's wild how the local media thinks coaches are basically the loving stepdads they never had.

 

[JackFr]

Even more pain is coming, but necessary pain. Welcome to the Z Generation folks

 

[ThosePuckingPenguins]

The local media trying to imply that somehow Sid Crosby just won't be able to cope without the great Mike Sullivan is so on brand it hurts.

Seriously. There weren’t any questions about that even when Jake was traded and IMO that was probably a bigger to Sid than this.

 

[MeinerEiner]

I´m really impressed by Dubas. You can sense there was a big riff between him and Sulli

 

[Deport Ogie]

I feel like that is the first time we've actually got a candid Dubas and to be honest he said all the right things.

It sounded very much like he spent 2 years mucking about on eggshells and finally finds himself on solid cement.

 

[HandshakeLine]

I´m really impressed by Dubas. You can sense there was a big riff between him and Sulli

I'm impressed enough by this conference that my annoyance that it took this long is somewhat appeased.

 

[eXile3]

I was wrong. He did a good job of explaining the decision.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

Some initial thoughts:

• It was time. Sullivan's tenure will be looked upon more fondly once we get some distance from its end, because he did help this franchise get two Cups. Those Cups were far from guaranteed. There was a real concern that Sid and Geno would forever be stuck on just one Cup.
• I think Sullivan still has a very high reputation around the league. This is just a partnership that went stale. Dubas even said that it's very hard for a coach to win and then lead a team through transition and back to winning, and I agree with that.
• I don't buy at all that Sullivan made demands. I think he and Dubas actually respect each other and worked well together. Dubas flat out denied that, too. It was just time and Dubas pulled the ripcord.
• Dubas saying that he was thinking about this even during the season says a lot. I think the slow starts and repeated mistakes were a sign.
• This should end the narrative that Dubas didn't have the power to fire Sullivan - this was a firing dressed up as a "mutual parting" for PR purposes. It should also end the narrative that FSG wasn't willing to move on.
• Dubas poured a lot of cold water on Sid dictating anything, too. That firm "No" about being concerned about Sid wanting to leave is interesting, too.
• I find the timeline that Dubas laid out - potentially taking until June - suggests that he's looking at highly successful AHL coaches (Todd Nelson?) and NHL staffers who are on potential Cup contenders (Jeff Halpern?).
• I'm relieved that Kirk MacDonald won't be a candidate, according to Dubas. He's just not ready. That should also help showcase some of the traits he's looking for in a coach - a bit more experience at a higher level than just one year in the AHL and a bunch in juniors. I know Dubas later said that all options are open, but I wonder if the overall coaching experience will matter.

I am amazed that apparently Dubas informed Sullivan yesterday and this did not leak until the Pens announced it this morning.

Going to be an interesting few weeks.

 

[Gurglesons]

I´m really impressed by Dubas. You can sense there was a big riff between him and Sulli

I think it is more about commitment to buying into where the franchise is going.

Glad he's gone.

 

[IcedCapp]

I´m really impressed by Dubas. You can sense there was a big riff between him and Sulli

i also wonder if he already has someone in mind. One of his answers (can't remember what), triggered something in me that made me think he already had a direction in mind.

 

[HandshakeLine]

Sullivan's legacy is 6 seasons of failure and 2 of success. I refuse to sugar coat it, though I know this is a trying time for some and my condolences on your loss.

 

[GilbertSeinfeld]

The local media trying to imply that somehow Sid Crosby just won't be able to cope without the great Mike Sullivan is so on brand it hurts.

They act like he's still "The Kid," not a 37-year-old who's already been through four previous head coaches.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I think it is more about commitment to buying into where the franchise is going.

Glad he's gone.

At least now things seem more logical, more normal, more explainable.

Nothing made sense these last two seasons.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

i also wonder if he already has someone in mind. One of his answers (can't remember what), triggered something in me that made me think he already had a direction in mind.

The timeline he laid - going all the way until June - is what made me think he has someone specifically in mind who won't be available until then.