Confirmed with Link: Penguins and Mike Sullivan part ways

I feel like his entire 'mystique' is built off of being called the Kessel Whisperer when they were together in Pittsburgh.

I think that's probably where he should be in the league: an assistant coach who can work with talented bozos
Yeah he seems way more suited to being the assistant that can navigate interactions/direction from coaches to players and vice versa.
 
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Exactly why I’m happy with him. I’m sure he will bury a skilled Euro or three but we will stink and the players will enjoy playing for him. And then no one will have a problem firing him.

What we don’t want is a guy to come in and get results from the sum of the parts :laugh:
I think you either go with someone like Carle and hope he's the long term guy to get the most out of the next crop of elite prospects the Pens will be drafting in short order (develops them well, plays them to their strengths, coaches up the floor, etc), or you get some bridge guy to instill a sense of professionalism and busting your ass to said prospects a la Therrien, then down the road if/when said building blocks are in place and settled in at the NHL level, go get a Jim Montgomery type or something.

Tocchet doesn't really do anything for me.
 
I think it's pretty clear that you go with a younger coach that is already making his way through developmental league or who has just broken through that arena into the NHL. I get that this poor bastard is probably somewhat temporary but we still need someone who can actually help bring some younger players along.
 
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We're all shitting on Tocchet for being a guy that's better suited to being an AC, but take the B2Bs out of the picture and you'd all be saying the same about Sullivan. :laugh:

Yeah I mean I have zero interest in Tocchet but I don't get why he's a total shitpile and Mike Sullivan is still somehow one of the best in the sport.
 
I think it's pretty clear that you go with a younger coach that is already making his way through developmental league or who has just broken through that arena into the NHL. I get that this poor bastard is probably somewhat temporary but we still need someone who can actually help bring some younger players along.
Mitch Love

His nickname will be McLovin
 
I think you either go with someone like Carle and hope he's the long term guy to get the most out of the next crop of elite prospects the Pens will be drafting in short order (develops them well, plays them to their strengths, coaches up the floor, etc), or you get some bridge guy to instill a sense of professionalism and busting your ass to said prospects a la Therrien, then down the road if/when said building blocks are in place and settled in at the NHL level, go get a Jim Montgomery type or something.

Tocchet doesn't really do anything for me.
I agree completely — I just think Tocc fits well into bucket 2 there. I think guys will play hard and he’ll be demanding of effort/grit/two way play in a way that fits for young talent in 2025. In no way do I think he’s a good coach.

I really think the next coach is dead man walking. There’s like no hope for the poor dude, whoever it is, making it through to the time we’re good again (provided that time comes).
 
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Dan Bylsma (with Pens)

Regular season: .668.
The WORST season we had with him was .616 (101 points). Never even came to missing the playoffs, not even when Malkin and Crosby missed half the season in the same year.
Playoffs: .551

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Mike Sullivan

Regular season: .602
Had better rosters than Bylsma on average. Missed the playoffs 3 times, including multiple years with healthy cores.
Playoffs: .537. 5-16 since 2019.

The most overrated goddamn coach I've seen in my life. He had front-loaded great results and then coasted on it for like 7 years. He's not even better than Bylsma, who people notoriously mock.

Best coach in Penguins history? f*** off. We had Bowman.
 
I agree completely — I just think Tocc fits well into bucket 2 there. I think guys will play hard and he’ll be demanding of effort/grit/two way play in a way that fits for young talent in 2025. In no way do I think he’s a good coach.

I really think the next coach is dead man walking. There’s like no hope for the poor dude, whoever it is, making it through to the time we’re good again (provided that time comes).
I guess, I dunno though. I doubt it's a realistic option but I'd go Carle HC and Tocchet assistant.
 
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Dan Bylsma (with Pens)

Regular season: .668.
The WORST season we had with him was .616 (101 points). Never even came to missing the playoffs.
Playoffs: .551

---

Mike Sullivan

Regular season: .602
Had better rosters than Bylsma on average. Missed the playoffs 3 times, including multiple years with healthy cores.
Playoffs: .537

The most overrated goddamn coach I've seen in my life. He had front-loaded great results and then coasted on it for like 7 years. He's not even better than Bylsma, who people notoriously mock.

Best coach in Penguins history? f*** off. We had Bowman.
For real. I don't get it. Both had B2B Cup Finals, Sullivan benefited from having a Sid and Geno at the top of their game instead of being a few seasons into the league. And yet, one is the great hero of our times and the other is a punchline.
 
Carle is def my pick. Tocc is way down my list just saying I’m not upset with him. And def prefer him to a Pascal Vincent or Babcock or a true dinosaur.

But even if Carle were to take it kinda feels like next dude is doomed
Yeah, the team feels like 4 or 5 years away even if they happen to luck into McKenna and Dupont tbh. They're not even really fully committed to the next chapter yet.
 

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