Confirmed with Link: Penguins and Mike Sullivan part ways

[66-30-33]

Mike Sullivan has been available for far longer than five minutes, now.

Where are all these teams lining up as promised?

Knocked themselves out running to the phone.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

Oh, and so much for Sid being the reason Sullivan was still here. Unless I missed the report about Sid demanding a trade after this news, seems that contrary to what some folks kept arguing, Sullivan COULD be let go without Sid being the catalyst for it.

The truth is somewhere in between: Crosby liked playing for Sullivan, but it wasn't a deal-breaker.
And we know he liked playing for Sullivan because he said:

In an email, Crosby expressed his appreciation for Sullivan: “He did an amazing job over the last 10 years here with his preparation and commitment to winning. Personally, he pushed me to be better everyday, and I learned a lot from him. We shared some great memories together, and I am grateful for his time here and everything he did for us.”

Source: Penguins, 10-year coach Mike Sullivan mutually agree to part ways: What’s next?

 

[eXile3]

4-5 years late at least, but wow finally!

I liked what Dubas said in the presser. What Sully wanted to do and what the team was going to do didn't match, and too many complacent things were building up around the players and team. Also mentioned the lack of system adjustments and not coaching to the team directly. I think a lot of what we've said about Sully was also said between the lines. Was also true 5 years ago, but Dubas gave him 2 years to prove it wrong and he didn't.

Thanks for the cups. You were amazing in 2016, lucky in 2017 and then bad from then on. I'm interested to see if he goes on to be more like 2016 (aggressive, accountable, speed game in all zones) or more like the latter 3/4 of his tenure on another team (aimless, passive board play, favouritism and lackadaisical defense). If he's the former, good on him and whatever team he goes to will be amazing. If the latter, even a great team will underperform.

Looking forward to a coach that will implement a direct offensive and defensive style, hold everyone accountable instead of just young talented guys, and hopefully having a team that will still bottom out for McKenna next season.

He’s mentioned complacency twice now in as many pressers which is great. I can’t stand seeing guys who don’t.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

 

[Mr. T]

Dubas leading the youth movement, firing stale ass Sullivan, somehow making Madden sound dumber than he normally does, and I assume making Josh Yohe cry.

I will not criticize the man for a whole year. That's a lot of good will he's banked.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

The truth is somewhere in between: Crosby liked playing for Sullivan, but it wasn't a deal-breaker.
And we know he liked playing for Sullivan because he said:



Source: Penguins, 10-year coach Mike Sullivan mutually agree to part ways: What’s next?

I'm not saying you are wrong but like... that's about as boiler-plate of a response as I've ever seen,

I've signed off on bar tabs with more flair and personality than that. I think I was more affectionate and sincere penning my last resignation letter... at a job I despised.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

No one can take today away from us lads. No one. I’m gonna ride this high as long as I can.

“It’s a great day for hockey”​

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

“Mutually part ways” does not seem accurate at all. Sounded like Dubas flew out there and fired him.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Dubas leading the youth movement, firing stale ass Sullivan, somehow making Madden sound dumber than he normally does, and I assume making Josh Yohe cry.

I will not criticize the man for a whole year. That's a lot of good will he's banked.

To be absolutely serious a moment... it really, really does give me reason to start watching again.

And for the benefit of everyone else... it's going to be much harder to find reasons to incessantly bitch about everything without the prime catalyst around.

I mean unless they do something unbelievably stupid like hire Torts.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Yohe put out a list of candidates. It included MacDonald (who Dubas explicitly said won’t be the HC) and Vellucci (who Dubas explicitly said is free to plead his case with the next coach or look elsewhere lol).

I want his job. He is a glorified HFer.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Yohe put out a list of candidates. It included MacDonald (who Dubas explicitly said won’t be the HC) and Vellucci (who Dubas explicitly said is free to plead his case with the next coach or look elsewhere lol).

I want his job. He is a glorified HFer.

Look man we're idiots but don't do us like THAT ok?

 

[OtherThingsILike]

“Mutually part ways” does not seem accurate at all. Sounded like Dubas flew out there and fired him.

Based on the article, it seems Sullivan wanted to push for the playoffs, but Dubas wasn't on the same page.
A mutual parting seems to be the correct description.

Also, it would seem from that that the HFPens posters who said Sullivan wouldn't want to coach for a rebuilding team were correct.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Based on the article, it seems Sullivan wanted to push for the playoffs, but Dubas wasn't on the same page.
A mutual parting seems to be the correct description.

Also, it would seem from that that the HFPens posters who said Sullivan wouldn't want to coach for a rebuilding team were correct.

I think they are being classy/tasteful/nice.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

I think they are being classy/tasteful/nice.

It was Yohe who made those claims, but I suppose Yohe could feasibly be any of those things.

 

[cygnus47]

I think they are being classy/tasteful/nice.

100% Everything Dubas said was standard firing stuff. The 'mutually agreed to part ways' thing is stereotypical corporate speak to let the guy go on his own terms rather than kicking him on the way out.

 

[cygnus47]

Based on the article, it seems Sullivan wanted to push for the playoffs, but Dubas wasn't on the same page.
A mutual parting seems to be the correct description.

Also, it would seem from that that the HFPens posters who said Sullivan wouldn't want to coach for a rebuilding team were correct.

It also seemed like Dubas didn't like the way Sully was coaching the team or that he was good for the state we're in i.e. developing young players and/or tanking.

 

[Ulf5]

“Mutually part ways” does not seem accurate at all. Sounded like Dubas flew out there and fired him.

He literally said he called Sid the day before to give him a heads up that he was flying to Boston to "shitcan" him.
First words out of his mouth were- after deliberation, discussions, WE have decided to move on from Mike. (paraphrasing)
And teams wouldn't need to call the Pens for permission to talk to Sully if they mutually parted ways.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

This is what the Pens looked like under Sullivan the last 5+ seasons.

https://preview.redd.it/how-many-miles-do-i-have-left-v0-w2oi2fxccixe1.jpeg?width=640&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=37954552ad13cb4a8e34f6920d90442a3fbb8f92

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Dubas leading the youth movement, firing stale ass Sullivan, somehow making Madden sound dumber than he normally does, and I assume making Josh Yohe cry.

I will not criticize the man for a whole year. That's a lot of good will he's banked.

I will give him a couple years for firing Sullivan alone.

Kindergarten Kyle is in my good graces. Someone get him the finest juice box available.

f*** Yohe. That whiny little skid mark is bitching about Hextall and will blame everyone for ruining Sullivan’s chances. He’s that pathetic. f***ing weasel wanker piece of shit knob.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

To be absolutely serious a moment... it really, really does give me reason to start watching again.

And for the benefit of everyone else... it's going to be much harder to find reasons to incessantly bitch about everything without the prime catalyst around.

I mean unless they do something unbelievably stupid like hire Torts.

Yeah watching the Pens again is going to be fun. I stopped watching in November. A full Pens game. I could not do it anymore.


Also that last part, take that shit back.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

He literally said he called Sid the day before to give him a heads up that he was flying to Boston to "shitcan" him.
First words out of his mouth were- after deliberation, discussions, WE have decided to move on from Mike. (paraphrasing)
And teams wouldn't need to call the Pens for permission to talk to Sully if they mutually parted ways.

Chances are Boston, Chicago, and NY are already calling him. I don’t see Sullivan wanting to coach in Canada. He seems like he wants to stay on the East Coast. I can even see Philly calling his stupid ass. I’m sure JR will call and try, because he’s that stupid. But will end up keeping Tocchet unless Rick really wants to get away from the shit show JR has created and ends up in Philly where there’s slight rumblings they might want him.

The funniest shit will be if he does end up in Chicago. They’re a very young team. Sullivan having issues there and being fired within 2yrs would be just porn for me. Because seriously, f*** that wanker.

If I’m a Gm with a young team that can’t hire Carle, I’d maybe look at Disco for what he did with Kakko and Wright. A 2yr contract and move on when the lads have gotten better. But Sully? He can go f*** right off. I hope he goes to Boston and gets fired by them twice. Why? Because f*** Sully.

 

[DesertedPenguin]

For all his experience, Kyle Dubas has never led an NHL coaching search. So it's going to be really interesting to see how this unfolds, because we have nothing to look back on for insight.

Brendan Shanahan hired Mike Babcock in Toronto in 2015. As assistant GM, Dubas was in charge of the Toronto Marlies and he hired Sheldon Keefe - with Shanahan's approval - as the Marlies' coach in 2015.

Dubas became GM under Shanahan in 2018 and in 2019, he fired Babcock and replaced him with Keefe. But that was in-season. It wasn't a full-fledged search, and Shanahan was still looking over his shoulder.

Now he's fully in charge of a search for the first time.

 

[Mr. T]

I will give him a couple years for firing Sullivan alone.

Kindergarten Kyle is in my good graces. Someone get him the finest juice box available.

f*** Yohe. That whiny little skid mark is bitching about Hextall and will blame everyone for ruining Sullivan’s chances. He’s that pathetic. f***ing weasel wanker piece of shit knob.

Live look-in at Yohe

 

[Jaded-Fan]

I do like that it removes an excuse for the players, including the big names that many had for them. And will settle the was it Sully or the players question once and for all.

Sully bad. If only he were gone.

He's gone now. As are the excuses.

Let's see if the usual suspects make the same mistakes that they have for years. Let's see if the team now makes the playoffs.

It is on the players now to prove that it was Sully that was the problem.

 

[PamBallam]

I'm not saying you are wrong but like... that's about as boiler-plate of a response as I've ever seen,

I've signed off on bar tabs with more flair and personality than that. I think I was more affectionate and sincere penning my last resignation letter... at a job I despised.

Seriously lol. Sid is the GOAT of being a PR robot. Love or hate, Sid is probably writing the exact same email.