Confirmed with Link: Penguins and Mike Sullivan part ways

[Buddy Bizarre]

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!

Am in a similar boat. I won my ice hockey championship yesterday, my daughter turned 18 (no more Child Support) and now this?

I'd be stupid not to play the lotto haha

 

[BrookswasHere44]

Dubas roasting Sullivan for his preferred player type is gold

What's the cliffs notes on this?

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

It's just a rumor but it absolutely seems like something Sullivan would do.

You have to understand that he has been heavily enabled and living in a buddle here for like... seven years. The media won't even ask him difficult questions though they STARTED to this year.

Also speaking of those clowns I look forward to DK, Rossi, Yohe, Kingerski etc. articles. What are you guys betting... overwrought gnashing and wailing or smarmy gaslighting "well WE'VE been saying for years that he had to go" stuff?

All jokes aside, I take a different approach of why MS did this.

Think about it- you are in a situation where the roster is shitty and you know next year will be more of the same (a bad record). Continued losing for MS may only sink his market value to other teams when his contract was up.
So this is THE WAY to force your boss to make a decision about you so you can go somewhere with different players and perhaps a boss more to your liking.

 

[Khelandros]

Currently, 2 of the 4, 4 Nations coaches have been let go. David Quinn may be next and who knows what Guerin will do with Hynes.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

All jokes aside, I take a different approach of why MS did this.

Think about it- you are in a situation where the roster is shitty and you know next year will be more of the same (a bad record). Continued losing for MS may only sink his market value to other teams when his contract was up.
So this is THE WAY to force your boss to make a decision about you so you can go somewhere with different players and perhaps a boss more to your liking.

I think there is some good sense there but if MS hasn't sunk his value at this point then NOTHING will.

I wonder if his so-so performance at Four Nations gave Dubas pause? Based on what was evidently said in this PC... sounds like the GM had concerns all year about the coaching staff and their direction.

 

[JackFr]

I am willing to bet Dubas isn't lying that Sullivan didn't have "demands" or "non-negotiables." But Sullivan did probably go into those meetings saying "we need to address this and this and this and get better and I really believe we can compete for the playoffs next year" and generally giving roster construction input and Dubas was probably like yeeeeeeeah okay time to pull the plug on this whole thing.

 

[MeinerEiner]

What's the cliffs notes on this?

Dubas wants:
- more competitive players
- becoming faster
- more talented and skilled players

 

[Ugene Magic]

I think a lot of people will say this name, but I disagree. I think there is something to establishing a new culture. Think about the eras:

MT (discipline)
Bylsma (LOL no discipline -wiffle ball)
Sully (discipline)

I think we need a small era of a Bylsma (but you know.. someone who can actually plan x's and o's) to bring in an era of culture to the team and an identity. But I do think a coach with a ton of grace and not a hard discipline coach.

I would never wish upon a Bylsma. No matter what the climate is.

MT got the short end of the stick and DB profited the most from his system and DB only tweaked it after he got the roster changes to do so. Sully just really reined in the cores inability to control their emotions.

JR. built that team, and Sully had the fortunate circumstances to come in and hold it all together with outside observations and taking charge.

The team needs a guy who can relate to the players, the x's and o's can come from the entire coaching staff since each will take charge of certain aspects. Firm, but relatable, We all know Sid and the core will not tolerate an abusive HC at their age.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

So like... from what I'm gathering here Dubas is kinda confirming what most of us already knew... that Sullivan was more or less calling the shots on player acquisitions and FA at least during KD's tenure? I mean to me that seems pretty obvious but for those of you who were like "THE GM GMs AND THE COACH COACHES DUMMY!" then there ya go.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I think that people (and the local media especially) have been repeating this idea that Sullivan and Sid are thick as thieves for so long that they are just married to it, now. I've never believed it. I'm sure he has the appropriate level of respect and professionalism towards him but it's such Pittsburgh-esque fanfiction to work the head coach in as the main character in this story when he's just... not.

Crosby never got upset or shitty when they traded his buddies... he's not gonna care that they dumped a head coach that hasn't done jack in years.

Well said. Plus, it is the same people who believe Crosby HATES losing who also think he cannot live without Sullivan. Which one is it, because both cannot be true.

 

[Pens1566]

Was fun listening to Dubas stuff Madden in the proverbial locker with that Q&A question.

 

[Zirakzigil]

I’d target Mitch Love as far as young up-and-coming coaches go.

This would be my pick. He was fantastic with Calgarys AHL team and left when Huska got the Flames HC job. Hes my pick.

Tbh I am curious if NJD is where Sully goes

Keefe has only been there a year and they were decimated with injuries. Highly unlikely.

Madden is still a thing? Who the heck is tuning into 105.9 THE X or any FM/AM radio station in 2025??

I do when I am not at home to watch the games. Nice to be able to stream that radio station in Canada.


I wish Sully the best. He brought us back to back cups and was an excellent coach here for many years. Team and him should of parted ways a few years ago, thats not on him. He will go down as one of the best coaches in team history.

I laugh at the thought people think we will be tanking for McKenna. Sid being Sid will make that unrealistic.

 

[WickedWrister]

 

[Empoleon8771]

I think Pascal Vincent is another option I would really like to pursue from the AHL. He was the head coach of Columbus that was put in after Babcock got fired, which didn't go very well for him but he was set up for failure. Since then, he was hired by Laval as their head coach and led a massive turnaround for their AHL team. They went from 74 points to 101 points this year and finished as the regular season winner, with Vincent winning his second AHL coach of the year.

His history is pretty extensive, with him spending a lot of time in the QMJHL as well:

• 1999-2008: Head coach and GM of the Cape Brenton Screaming Eagles, won both GM and coach of the year in separate years
• 2008-2011: Head coach and GM of the Montreal Junior Hockey Club, improved them from a bad expansion team to one of the best QMJHL teams in only 3 years (before that team folded)
• 2011-2016: Assistant coach for the Winnipeg Jets
• 2016-2021: Head coach of the Manitoba Moose, won the AHL's outstanding coach in 2017-2018
• 2021-2023: Assistant coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets
• 2023-2024: Interim head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets
• 2024-2025: Head coach of the Laval Rocket

He's had extensive success in both the AHL and QMJHL, and Laval is in a nice spot to go on a run this year too. Really interesting guy to keep an eye on.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I think Pascal Vincent is another option I would really like to pursue from the AHL. He was the head coach of Columbus that was put in after Babcock got fired, which didn't go very well for him but he was set up for failure. Since then, he was hired by Laval as their head coach and led a massive turnaround for their AHL team. They went from 74 points to 101 points this year and finished as the regular season winner, with Vincent winning his second AHL coach of the year.

His history is pretty extensive, with him spending a lot of time in the QMJHL as well:

• 1999-2008: Head coach and GM of the Cape Brenton Screaming Eagles, won both GM and coach of the year in separate years
• 2008-2011: Head coach and GM of the Montreal Junior Hockey Club, improved them from a bad expansion team to one of the best QMJHL teams in only 3 years (before that team folded)
• 2011-2016: Assistant coach for the Winnipeg Jets
• 2016-2021: Head coach of the Manitoba Moose, won the AHL's outstanding coach in 2017-2018
• 2021-2023: Assistant coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets
• 2023-2024: Interim head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets
• 2024-2025: Head coach of the Laval Rocket

He's had extensive success in both the AHL and QMJHL, and Laval is in a nice spot to go on a run this year too. Really interesting guy to keep an eye on.

Absolutely.

 

[SomeDude]

A city is allowed to have a pair of Mike Sullivan’s or none. I don’t make the rules.

 

[Empoleon8771]

This would be my pick. He was fantastic with Calgarys AHL team and left when Huska got the Flames HC job. Hes my pick.

Mitch Love is also a really good pick.

It's just nice to see there are numerous up and coming coach options out there. Carle, Vincent and Love all look like very legit options.

 

[Duffy13]

I am so so happy....... SUCK IT YOHE!!!!!

 

[SomeDude]

I just can’t see an up and coming coach with a promising future considering this gig. They know what’s going to happen and that this team is going to suck for awhile. Even if a team promises to stick with you through it, coaches hired right at the cusp of a rebuild almost always last 2-3 years and then are unceremonious tossed away when the team is ready to start trying to win again.

I think it’s going to be Quinn unless he follows Sully to his next gig.

 

[Zirakzigil]

Mitch Love is also a really good pick.

It's just nice to see there are numerous up and coming coach options out there. Carle, Vincent and Love all look like very legit options.

Local Flames media and players raved about him. Conroy thought he needed some assistant coach time when Huska was fired. Hes been with the Caps for 2 years now. He would be a Dubas type fire. Strong analytical and systems guy.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I hesitate with Carle. The last thing I want is for us to empower another head coach. Not that I think he is a bad candidate, but I want someone who comes in here because he wants the challenge. Not because we overpay and give him everything he wants.

 

[Empoleon8771]

I just can’t see an up and coming coach with a promising future considering this gig. They know what’s going to happen and that this team is going to suck for awhile. Even if a team promises to stick with you through it, coaches hired right at the cusp of a rebuilt almost always last 2-3 years and then are unceremonious tossed away when the team is ready to start trying to win again.

I think it’s going to be Quinn unless he follows Sully to his next gig.

Because there are only 32 NHL head coaching jobs and they pay a hell of a lot more than being an assistant coach or an AHL head coach.

 

[Jacob]

Love is currently in charge of the Caps D, which is interesting because he was mostly a forward in his playing days but he did convert from D. Chychrun and Sandin had career seasons under him and Carlson is somehow not yet cooked so he seems to be doing pretty well.

 

[Jag68Sid87]

I just can’t see an up and coming coach with a promising future considering this gig. They know what’s going to happen and that this team is going to suck for awhile. Even if a team promises to stick with you through it, coaches hired right at the cusp of a rebuild almost always last 2-3 years and then are unceremonious tossed away when the team is ready to start trying to win again.

I think it’s going to be Quinn unless he follows Sully to his next gig.

Quinn makes ZERO sense. You can't be Dubas and defiantly talk about change today, then put the clone behind the bench.

 

[SomeDude]

Because there are only 32 NHL head coaching jobs and they pay a hell of a lot more than being an assistant coach or an AHL head coach.

Meh. We got turned down by assistant/out of work coaches back when Johnston was hired. These guys think long term. They know if they start their head coaching career with a .350 winning percentage, they’re probably not going to get another opportunity.