Salary Cap: Pens Salary Thread: Pens Ownership "Dubas... that Coca-Cola machine. I want you to shoot the lock off it. There may be some waiver players in there."

[Pancakes]

Maybe let's give him a few more games, especially into next season with (hopefully) new coach/new system. EVERYONE looks bad here. We ALL know why. But the thing with Bunting versus someone like Smith - is that he's not vanilla and actually brings something to this club we need...and at a reasonable cost.

I agree with giving him more games next season to see how he looks, but we aren't getting a new coach. Dubas has been abundantly clear about that.

 

[Pancakes]

Sullivan is part of the core. I wish the Pens would move on from him too, but there has to be a behind the scenes reason for him to still be here. Maybe his personality can keep the who’s in the dressing room in check?

I think it's a combination of factors. He's won two cups so probably the core is pretty loyal to him. He also got the extension so FSG is probably not super onboard with the idea of replacing him.

And finally I think he's genuinely well regarded around the league as a good coach. If he got fired he'd get scooped pretty quickly.

The Pens absolutely should ignore all of those factors and replace him, but they won't. Even if they think he's a good coach, it has always been clear to me that coaches have a shelf life. I don't know how Dubas or anyone can watch this team and genuinely think that Sullivan's message is still resonating/effective.

I would not be surprised at all if Sullivan went elsewhere and had success, but he's not likely to have any more with this team. It's not working here any more.

 

[orby]

LeBrun: Penguins’ Kyle Dubas on ‘tough’ trades and why he won’t discuss Toronto departure


He also talks about starting discussions with Sid's extension when the season ends, and his intention to have him retire as a Penguin. Also that he consults with Sid on major decisions like trading Jake, even if they don't always agree on what those decisions are.

Essentially the need to balance getting younger and rebuilding with trying to contend right now.

Seems like the marching orders are to retool and try to compete next season instead of rebuild. I think if they're going that route, among other things, they should be looking at ways to reduce Malkin and Letang's workload moving forward. In a better system (i.e. without Sullivan) I think Karlsson as an undisputed #1D could work fine, but there's really no one in the organization who can slot in at 2C effectively in Malkin's place. I think they should be looking to acquire someone who can play 2C in the off-season so Malkin can play wing or reduced minutes.

 

[molon labe]

I agree with giving him more games next season to see how he looks, but we aren't getting a new coach. Dubas has been abundantly clear about that.

Right (probably) - so nothing regarding the roster is worth debating at that point.

Sullivan has been given all the players he wants and cannot win. Sullivan has been given players he did NOT want, and he did not win. Sullivan can not win.

So, who gives a crap what players we have.

Sullivan coaching the Pens is starting a marathon with two cinder blocks tied to your feet and hoping to win. I get that Sid loves him and didn't want to be known as a coach killer so he's probably done some heavy lobbying for him but we're going nowhere with that dude (clearly) and Sid likely never sniffs the playoffs again so long as he's here.

I think the only logical thing I could do to combat Sullivan is to literally target every single player mold he does NOT like - i.e. physical toe the line types and keep far away no-skill grinders. Otherwise he's gonna keep hammering his same stubborn ideas into the hole that don't work. Has nothing to do with 20M tied up in 3 players, one of which deserves the money. He's out of excuses.

 

[molon labe]

I think one of the most understated disappointments this year was just how up for grabs spots in the East were. The fact that we are not making playoffs, this year of any year - is insulting.

Flyers, Caps, Wings, Islanders...they all suck. And so do we. Yet our problems have been obvious for so long that it's truly amazing this braindead org couldn't figure them out.

 

[orby]

I think one of the most understated disappointments this year was just how up for grabs spots in the East were. The fact that we are not making playoffs, this year of any year - is insulting.

Flyers, Caps, Wings, Islanders...they all suck. And so do we. Yet our problems have been obvious for so long that it's truly amazing this braindead org couldn't figure them out.

I hate to say it but they have a legitimate shot of still making the playoffs and getting annihilated in round 1 again.

 

[molon labe]

I hate to say it but they have a legitimate shot of still making the playoffs and getting annihilated in round 1 again.

I guess we have different takes on legitimate...

They have a shot, if they go like .700 the rest of the way and the teams above them shit the bed. There's zero evidence over the past three seasons combined (and we have very, very different pieces over that time) to suggest they're capable of that.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

I hate to say it but they have a legitimate shot of still making the playoffs and getting annihilated in round 1 again.

10% chance. Honestly the fact it's not above 50% with the current clown show the East is kinda embarrassing.

 

[steelcityassault]

Now Dubas' grandma is chirping Subban and other people on twitter for his comments on TV... Hilarious

 

[Victor Z]

Now Dubas' grandma is chirping Subban and other people on twitter for his comments on TV... Hilarious

Subban is an ass and a clown -- but that doesn't mean he's *always* wrong.

 

[SEALBound]

I generally liked Subban on the show. I thought he gives relatively good analysis.

...the robe though...the f***ing robe. JFC, WTF is that Subban?

 

[KrisLetAngry]

I generally liked Subban on the show. I thought he gives relatively good analysis.

...the robe though...the f***ing robe. JFC, WTF is that Subban?

What did Subban do / say?

Also I like him because he doesn't have a brick personality. Standards low.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

Now Dubas' grandma is chirping Subban and other people on twitter for his comments on TV... Hilarious

Yeah, you can't drop something like this without a link, man.

 

[Malkinstheman]

It's one thing to compliment your coach when asked about him but Dubas seems to always gush about how great Sullivan is. Dude is gonna be our Tomlin isn't he.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I'm not sure what it is so hard to understand here.

The Penguins gave up value in the trade to get Bunting back.

He was considered a positive asset.

Bunting's fine as long as he's allowed to play his game. He adds a different element to our top six.

My concern is Sullivan won't allow him to play his game.

It's one thing to compliment your coach when asked about him but Dubas seems to always gush about how great Sullivan is. Dude is gonna be our Tomlin isn't he.

It's bordering on insanity how highly Dubas and the organization think of Sullivan. The way they talk about him is the same way an organization would talk about a Crosby or a McDavid when a reporter asks about trading them away.

 

[Turin]

1. Bunting is a positive asset
2. Nothing has leaked that suggests Dubas took a lesser package just to get Bunting

 

[Gurglesons]

1. Bunting is a positive asset
2. Nothing has leaked that suggests Dubas took a lesser package just to get Bunting

Except Dubas saying he wanted a "win now asset" in the trade.

“It’s tough when you have to make those decisions,’’ added Dubas. “But you have to always do what you believe is best for the long term of the organization and my sights were set on giving the team as long as possible to assert itself more in the race. The other part was getting back a roster player (Michael Bunting) that could help us as well in addition to the future assets.’’

Having Bunting part of that deal was important for Dubas, who didn’t want to make a futures-only deal. Again, trying to maintain that delicate balance of today and the future, which is going to be very difficult with an aging roster and a pretty thin pipeline. But that’s what Dubas got hired to do.

 

[Gurglesons]

Bunting's fine as long as he's allowed to play his game. He adds a different element to our top six.

My concern is Sullivan won't allow him to play his game.

I feel like we could've got a much better player if we took an asset based package and tried to flip it.

Bunting is fine if we get rid of Smith, Rust or Rakell.

My biggest fear is that Dubas thinks this top six can get it done.

 

[eXile3]

Now Dubas' grandma is chirping Subban and other people on twitter for his comments on TV... Hilarious

I’m sorry what? Where can I find such a thing?

 

[Gurglesons]

I’m sorry what? Where can I find such a thing?

 

[HandshakeLine]

Lol, I can't imagine the shame of watching my grandma try to publicly defend me in my late 30s.

 

[steelcityassault]

Lol, I can't imagine the shame of watching my grandma try to publicly defend me in my late 30s.

She's probably been doing it since he was 13 years old on the bus getting picked on by the jocks

 

[TheGoldenJet]

Lol, I can't imagine the shame of watching my grandma try to publicly defend me in my late 30s.

It’s all part of Doobler’s carefully crafted PR campaign.

I mean, who isn’t going to concede to a grandma on social media?

 

[HandshakeLine]

She's probably been doing it since he was 13 years old on the bus getting picked on by the jocks

Like I’m a nerd and this dude should have been mercilessly bullied.

 

[MayorofWBS]

Mike Sullivan's system = where defenseman go to die