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."

[Sidney the Kidney]

Is it wrong to suggest that the Devils had different expectations than the Penguins this year, though? The Devils were supposed to be one of the favorites in the east. The Penguins, though they talked about the Cup, were projected everywhere to be a fringe playoff team.

Is there even one time where you don't come up with an excuse for the Penguins keeping Sullivan?

 

[GilbertSeinfeld]

Alex Nylander has scored his second goal with Columbus.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

yet the sports media conglomerate can't do it..

And they went to the 2nd round last year losing to Carolina while we missed the playoffs losing to Chicago at home... Yet he is still our f***ing coach

 

[cygnus47]

Honestly, I don't understand how the power play being as bad as it is hasn't lead to Sullivan getting fired. At the end of the day, if the PP isn't performing, then the head coach should be stepping in and trying to do something about it. Where "doing something" isn't just "shuffle around a few players between the first and second units", but rather, "if the first unit isn't doing what they're being told to, send out players who will." If the problem is that the players are doing what the coaches are telling them to do, then it's even more of a fireable offense, because no coach should be telling their players to have the three players at the top of the umbrella just pass the puck back and forth to each other until they cough up the puck.

And not even try to get shots in stride while there. Just don't even try to generate a chance.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Honestly, I don't understand how the power play being as bad as it is hasn't lead to Sullivan getting fired. At the end of the day, if the PP isn't performing, then the head coach should be stepping in and trying to do something about it. Where "doing something" isn't just "shuffle around a few players between the first and second units", but rather, "if the first unit isn't doing what they're being told to, send out players who will." If the problem is that the players are doing what the coaches are telling them to do, then it's even more of a fireable offense, because no coach should be telling their players to have the three players at the top of the umbrella just pass the puck back and forth to each other until they cough up the puck.

I think you can argue that the team is good at 5v5 and that's Sullivan's main responsibility, so he shouldn't be fired for the failures of the PP. But with that being said, why the hell does Todd Rierden still have a job then?

It's literally "we tried nothing and we're out of ideas".

 

[DearDiary]

And they went to the 2nd round last year losing to Carolina while we missed the playoffs losing to Chicago at home... Yet he is still our f***ing coach

Pens gave up on their coach the last 2 games of last season and missed the playoffs. Zero emotion shown, no sadness or anger. The players know that Sullivans system sucks and they refuse to play hard for him.

 

[Ryder71]

Pens gave up on their coach the last 2 games of last season and missed the playoffs. Zero emotion shown, no sadness or anger. The players know that Sullivans system sucks and they refuse to play hard for him.

Good, then we'll plummet in the standings and garner a lottery pick as a result.

 

[ChaosAgent]

I mean, if we're being real, the only reason this team isn't a playoff team right now is because their powerplay sucks. And based on the players on this team, there is really no excuse for the powerplay sucking.

Would this team be good with a better powerplay? Probably not much more than a wildcard team. But the Penguins are a decent 5v5 team (+9 goal differential, 11th in GF% at 5v5), and a powerplay that is as good as it should be would likely push them up about 10-12 points in the standings. So when people say "I don't see what Dubas saw in this team", I don't really understand that.

The thing I don't understand with Dubas is why he hasn't fired Rierden yet when the powerplay obviously needs a major makeover. He's punting the season before even trying to fire the PP coach, when the PP is pretty much the entire reason they're not in a playoff spot. I don't get it at all.

The players really aren't good PP players.

But the coaching should be able to get them to mid-pack, which would make all the difference. It's absurd that they haven't fired Reirden.

 

[Coastal Kev]

Alex Nylander has scored his second goal with Columbus.

I swear that sully has infested the entire organization with his brand of 4line hockey. ZAR talked about it, said we instructed to not worry about scoring.... but play a sully style of crappy minute eaters.

It's the same thing in every league, look at how many conservative coaches destroy great QB prospects in the NFL.

What a mess this franchise has become. Rename them the Beantown Sullys ,that's who they are.

AND FYI.........SULLY HAS BEEN A FLOP AS AN HC HERE AND AT BOSTON OUTSIDE OF JR HANDING HIM THE PERFECT ROSTER FOR 18MONTHS.

 

[Andy99]

Alex Nylander has scored his second goal with Columbus.

Every player Sullivan doesn’t like and has no use for does better on other teams…Sullivan firing should be Dubas’ first move

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

Every player Sullivan doesn’t like and has no use for does better on other teams…Sullivan firing should be Dubas’ first move

I actually thought Sullivan mostly gave Nylander a pretty good shot. Maybe TOO good sometimes.

I don't think it's a matter of opportunity ALL the time, here. Sometimes it's also the fact that this team plays rinky dink, zero-event coward hockey that cares more about imaginary goals than real ones and likes to pat itself on the back for churning out players that will be nice little automatons and just push the puck up and down the walls all game instead of ever trying anything.

And some of us wonder why skill players look like turds, here. What a mystery!

 

[Turin]

Nylander definitely got multiple shots and did absolutely nothing. Kapanen started well in St. Louis too and he'll probably be out of the league in a year.

 

[Jacob]

Especially if we’re blowing it up and going with more youth D.J. Smith might be a good coaching candidate for here. The Senators suck but they had issues well beyond coaching and they always seemed to give an honest effort if nothing else, with kind of a pedal-to-the-floor style. Players seemed to like playing for him. He’s young by coach standards and he and Dubas are familiar with eachother.

Hire a couple younger assistants to work with him. Build a team that can play an aggressive style again.

 

[Coastal Kev]

I actually thought Sullivan mostly gave Nylander a pretty good shot. Maybe TOO good sometimes.

I don't think it's a matter of opportunity ALL the time, here. Sometimes it's also the fact that this team plays rinky dink, zero-event coward hockey that cares more about imaginary goals than real ones and likes to pat itself on the back for churning out players that will be nice little automatons and just push the puck up and down the walls all game instead of ever trying anything.

And some of us wonder why skill players look like turds, here. What a mystery!

But what is he being told with how to play? This team plays so non threatening, it's a wonder that they ever score. And truth be told, they wouldn't if Sid hadn't been having such a great season.

 

[Nakawick]

What is it with Pittsburgh sports team coaches, particularly the Pens and the Steelers? It is like they have tenure built into their contracts.

It has cost both teams playoff wins and appearances. Ya Yinzers get too emotionally attached.

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Nylander again for the Jackets, 2nd of the night!! Why couldn't KD put a clause on his deal like Bemstrom!

 

[Ryder71]

Every player Sullivan doesn’t like and has no use for does better on other teams…Sullivan firing should be Dubas’ first move

Nope, Dubas needs to focus on fleecing teams for Jakes services. The TDL should be all that matters now.

 

[The Great Mighty Poo]

Nylander definitely got multiple shots and did absolutely nothing. Kapanen started well in St. Louis too and he'll probably be out of the league in a year.

Yeah, Nylander wasn't gonna help or hurt at this point, he has skill and talent, his problem is he's a step behind processing and reacting at the NHL level.

 

[BlindWillyMcHurt]

But what is he being told with how to play? This team plays so non threatening, it's a wonder that they ever score. And truth be told, they wouldn't if Sid hadn't been having such a great season.

Yeah that's what I mean. I'm of the opinion that this team isn't "tuning out it's coach." I think this is how they want them to play. I'm sure the coaching staff is puzzled as to why this isn't leading to great success but I really, really do think this is the style of hockey Sullivan wants to play. Like... ya can't have it both ways. I am to understand that the players and core love and respect Mike Sullivan... but they ALSO are tuning him out? That doesn't track,

You can see it in the way EK and Malkin have shifted as the season wore on. At one point you could absolutely tell they had been taken aside and asked to change their game. And it wasn't like they refused and didn't listen. The results were obvious.

 

[Jacob]

I don’t see much in the Vegas players being mentioned. Dorofeyev is nothing to write home about. He’s a Bemstrom/Puustinen/DOC caliber guy. Same with Brisson. I’d like Edstrom but haven’t seen him mentioned.

I want good prospects not middling crap, which we already have.

 

[Andy99]

Nope, Dubas needs to focus on fleecing teams for Jakes services. The TDL should be all that matters now.

One doesn’t preclude the other…if you can’t focus on two things at the same time, maybe you shouldn’t be a GM lol

 

[Andy99]

Nylander again for the Jackets, 2nd of the night!! Why couldn't KD put a clause on his deal like Bemstrom!

Lmao, Nylander scored a hattie …

 

[KJ Dangler]

Nylander with the hat trick .. it’s on like Donkey Kong … see y’all tomorrow

 

[Le Magnifique 66]

Lmao, Nylander scored a hattie …

Of course he did, but our coach isn't the problem.... I hope he scores another one tomorrow and gives MS a f***ing stare down

 

[Bishop7979]

Of course he did, but our coach isn't the problem.... I hope he scores another one tomorrow and guves MS a f***ing stare down

And
Dubas: we gotta get younger

Anyone with a brain: and Sullivan is going to ruin any young players brought in.