Confirmed with Link: Penguins and Mike Sullivan part ways

[Ugene Magic]

Well.... That was unexpected.

 

[Ryder71]

I thought there'd be more celebration in this here thread. Where's the excitement peeps?

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Would be odd after all of the stuff we heard about Sullivan wanting to coach the Penguins through the rebuild.

But if I had to guess, it was probably "I'm not going to coach here unless you fix this defense" and Dubas said he wasn't going to focus on making short term improvements just so Sullivan had a better team.

Were I KD I'd have been like "so this will be what... your third or fourth revamped defense you've demanded?"

 

[TimmyD]

I mean I'm not going to put much credence in that rumor but the idea of Sullivan stomping into the GM's office after this season and demanding a fresh batch of Noel Acciaris to turn things around REALLY tracks.

Yeah I’m not sure why people think Sullivan wouldn’t walk in with a list of demands or non-negotiable things he wants done. I mean we have all talked as nauseam on this board about how arrogant he is… why wouldn’t he do that then?

 

[Ryder71]

Guess he shouldn't have won game 82 then.

 

[MeinerEiner]

What a day! I got my tax refund, a commitment for a new apartment, an appointment for a job interview, and Sullivan got fired!



I'm definitely going to play the lottery today!

 

[Empoleon8771]

Were I KD I'd have been like "so this will be what... your third or fourth revamped defense you've demanded?"

To be fair, Sullivan isn't the reason that they've needed to be revamping the defense in the past few years.

Sullivan was probably very happy with the 2021 defense when it had Dumounlin-Letang, Pettersson-Marino and Matheson-Ceci.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Would be odd after all of the stuff we heard about Sullivan wanting to coach the Penguins through the rebuild.

But if I had to guess, it was probably "I'm not going to coach here unless you fix this defense" and Dubas said he wasn't going to focus on making short term improvements just so Sullivan had a better team.

Dawg- I am trying to tell you… Yohe knows NOTHING now that JR is gone. Like absolutely zero.

 

[GilbertSeinfeld]

I'm so happy even @BlindWillyMcHurt can't upset me.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Dawg- I am trying to tell you… Yohe knows NOTHING now that JR is gone. Like absolutely zero.

Was it Yohe who said that? I honestly don't even remember the source, I just knew that I had read that Sullivan wanted to be a coach through the rebuild.

But yeah, if that report is true (which I'm skeptical about because it's Adam Crowley), it was probably something about fixing the defense and Dubas wouldn't commit to that. Honestly it makes me wonder if he's planning on Brunicke playing in the NHL next year, he was apparently very good in the AHL after getting his feet wet there.

 

[ColePens]

5 years too late but hey... at least its done

 

[Ryder71]

I'm so happy even @BlindWillyMcHurt can't upset me.

WOW!

You must be on fire!

 

[TimmyD]

Would be odd after all of the stuff we heard about Sullivan wanting to coach the Penguins through the rebuild.

But if I had to guess, it was probably "I'm not going to coach here unless you fix this defense" and Dubas said he wasn't going to focus on making short term improvements just so Sullivan had a better team.

I don’t think Sullivan was ever interested in coaching this team through a rebuild. I think Mike Sullivan wants to win and only wants to win his way and I believe he feels his system and style needs defensively responsible veteran players.

 

[Beauner]

Not sure how trustworthy this is or is not but if so.....bringing a list of demands to management given recent performance was certainly a choice.

Add: Seeing @TimmyD mentioned this. Here's the tweet confirming.

I respect Sully for what he was able to do here, but in what world did he think he was in a position to make demands hahah

 

[JackFr]

Tbh I am curious if NJD is where Sully goes

No shot, Keefe did a terrific job with that team this season.

I bet it's New York and I bet it's gonna be a huge pile of cash.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

To be fair, Sullivan isn't the reason that they've needed to be revamping the defense in the past few years.

Sullivan was probably very happy with the 2021 defense when it had Dumounlin-Letang, Pettersson-Marino and Matheson-Ceci.

No you can't lay it all at his feet but Mike Sullivan has absolutely been right at the heart of every single player acquired in the last however many years and that hasn't turned our terrifically by my count so I'm happy to have that voice gone. His product out on the ice is only once facet of his influence on this team and in some ways maybe the least impactful. Having no more Mike Sullivan in the ear of the offseason GM with boatloads of cap space is a good thing.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

I'm so happy even @BlindWillyMcHurt can't upset me.

Aw I legit don't mean to upset people.

 

[GilbertSeinfeld]

No you can't lay it all at his feet but Mike Sullivan has absolutely been right at the heart of every single player acquired in the last however many years and that hasn't turned our terrifically by my count so I'm happy to have that voice gone. His product out on the ice is only once facet of his influence on this team and in some ways maybe the least impactful. Having no more Mike Sullivan in the ear of the offseason GM with boatloads of cap space is a good thing.

Just think of the many fourth line scrubs that had to change their plans and have to look at real estate in New York instead of Western PA.

 

[pistolpete11]

Honestly, it's a shame that it was come to us gleefully cheering this on. The dude was a big part in winning the B2B. We all have fond memories of those runs, but it is tainted by what came afterwards. If they would have just let him go after the Canadiens series, we could have all said "Thank you for your time here and good luck." Now....

Go kick rocks, Mike.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

No shot, Keefe did a terrific job with that team this season.

Could not disagree more

Everyone is giving that team a pass. For what? I know it wasn’t just Jack Hughes but they’re a bottom 5 team from Jan 1 on.

Hughes went down March 2nd. They have a decent roster sans Jack Hughes too. Bratt is a beast. Meier is an analytical darling. Hischier is a 1C.

They completely imploded.

 

[wheelz87]

Gonna make one post and ignore the thread thereafter.

Thank you for the cups. One of the best coaches to ever lead this franchise. Exactly the right guy and system for that ‘16 team.

Unfortunately a change needed to happen. Gotta exhaust everything before Sid hangs em up. Hopefully I never have to hear how sully is the devil anymore. Yinz can all celebrate in here.

 

[eXile3]

Honestly, it's a shame that it was come to us gleefully cheering this on. The dude was a big part in winning the B2B. We all have fond memories of those runs, but it is tainted by what came afterwards. If they would have just let him go after the Canadiens series, we could have all said "Thank you for your time here and good luck." Now....

Go kick rocks, Mike.

Yeah it sucks such good memories are tainted by how the organization handle it. I’m really curious as to how this will proceed with him gone.

I wonder how Sid’s going to react.

 

[Malkinstheman]

I am genuinely just shocked, really thought he was here until Sid retired. I just pray that the Pens will be fun to watch again. The on ice product has been garbage for years now

 

[Ugene Magic]

No you can't lay it all at his feet but Mike Sullivan has absolutely been right at the heart of every single player acquired in the last however many years and that hasn't turned our terrifically by my count so I'm happy to have that voice gone. His product out on the ice is only once facet of his influence on this team and in some ways maybe the least impactful. Having no more Mike Sullivan in the ear of the offseason GM with boatloads of cap space is a good thing.

From the outset of tearing down the formula since the closing days of the 2017 cup.

When they let go of Bonino, Daley and just kept wiping clean of a team of destiny sealed their fate.

Obviously about 8 years too late.

 

[Big Friggin Dummy]

I think this puts to rest the idea that Dubas doesn't have the authority to fire Sullivan. It also puts to rest my theory that this team was locked into Sid+Sully through the Olympics.