The Rise And Fall Of Mike Sullivan...

[Power Surge]

I don't personally know any Penguins fans that still want Sullivan as the coach.

Tomlin is a difficult situation, but even a large contingent of people want him fired as well.

Baseball in Pittsburgh for most people is a non-starter really lol.

Well, They say that but.... this is a fan base that had recently booed Ron Hextall and Matt Canada right out of their respective buildings. No one is or was stopping them from doing the same thing to the other two, but they won't?

For the Steelers doing that to Tomlin right this minute would look pretty silly given how things are going but when they're not going, what's another 17 years? Lol.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Well, They say that but.... this is a fan base that had recently booed Ron Hextall and Matt Canada right out of their respective buildings. No one is or was stopping them from doing the same thing to the other two, but they won't?

For the Steelers doing that to Tomlin right this minute would look pretty silly given how things are going but when they're not going, what's another 17 years? Lol.

Well, the last Penguins game I was at there were significant "Fire Sullivan" chants that broke out over the game as well as hefty boo's, and I've heard from others this has been a common thing at home games recently.


As for Tomlin it's kind of tricky. The ownership has a weird obsession with their low number of head coaches in franchise history and pride themselves on keeping guys for a long time. Also, Tomlin can string together good enough regular seasons to get by, but then doesn't get it done in the end. At almost any given point in Tomlin's recent career you can point to him and say that within each season he's not doing badly enough to warrant getting fired, so it's an odd situation.

Having as many "non-losing seasons" as he has had is pretty impressive in the NFL, especially with the QB situation since Ben declined.... but at what point does that outweigh the lack of playoff success? And who could actually be guaranteed to produce as well as Tomlin has?

 

[BLNY]

Ultimately, Sid will decide who the coach is. If you fire Sullivan, who can actual right the ship?

 

[ijuka]

Ultimately, Sid will decide who the coach is. If you fire Sullivan, who can actual right the ship?

That's not a good thing. Players shouldn't be running the show. The GM should be the one who decides on the coach, not Crosby.

 

[BLNY]

That's not a good thing. Players shouldn't be running the show. The GM should be the one who decides on the coach, not Crosby.

I don't disagree, but it wouldn't be the first time in the Sid era Pens.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Pretty sure the Sullivan hire wasn’t applauded either, most thought he was an interim that was set up to fail

Other fans were hating because the Pens were pretty hated around the league at the time. But pens fans were excited because he was doing an excellent job with the baby pens.

Penguins fire Mike Johnston, Mike Sullivan named new head coach

Timing is a bit odd. Win in Colorado, then a SO loss against a red hot Kings team.

forums.hfboards.com

 

[eco's bones]

I'm kind of thinking that the Pens are going to sell as many vets as they can from now until the trade deadline in hopes of picking up either younger assets or draft picks and that they'd like some of both. If they do head that way Sullivan is probably not the guy they're going to want at least starting next year. That said not every prospect or draft pick works out and the next coach is probably a couple years at best before he moves on for someone else and that's whatever progress is being made.

I don't see the Pens moving on from Crosby unless he asks them to trade him to a contender this year, next year or whenever. That might happen if he gets sick enough of not being in the playoffs. That can take a toll on a veteran player even of much lesser pedigree. Playoff games are meaningful. Malkin, Letang, Karlsson though they should be ready to move them and ASAP....and that's something also that could change Sid's outlook down the line too if say Malkin moves and the team that gets him wins a cup. Letang with 3 more years after this one that's going to be a tough sell.

 

[Extra Texture]

At this point I just assume it’s Sid. He likes playing in the same system, where he’s comfortable, and gets to attack offensively. He really may have told the org that he doesn’t want to play under anyone else.

The only other factor is that FSG just loves their Boston Sully, lol.

I think both elements are at play.

FSG definitely (and Dubas as well) think the sun rises and sets out of his ass. Supposedly he negotiated and signed his extension directly with the ownership, no GM involvement (was Hextall at the time) and the noises from the organization have all been shining him on about how great he is, even as the team continues to implode.

I’m speculating here, but I have to guess the players, specifically Sid, have a hand in it too. For exactly the reasons you suggest. I don’t think an unhappy leadership group, that FSG has committed to a retirement tour for, would fail to move the needle. If they wanted him gone, you wouldn’t be seeing absolutely no smoke around Sullivan’s job. There would be rumblings IMO. And I don’t think we’d be hearing noises about ownership “promising

So, yeah, the whole org has basically determined that he isn’t the problem, and escapes blame. And it’s very possible that the only senior players who could pull rank on him are basically at the point of saying “nah”. Which is a damning indictment of both the org’s lack of ambition, and the players. They’ve earned the right to call their shots, and certainly to end things how they want. But playing out the the next few years as league doormats is going to be hard to watch. It was inevitable that the team would be bad. It wasn’t inevitable that it would happen so soon or so suddenly and without pulling every lever to reverse course. Sad ending, especially when your team is proving that a young coach with new ideas (and 15 odd million in dead cap) can kickstart even a team full of veterans.

 

[Duffy13]

My biggest fear is that they decide to part ways with Sullivan as the coach and make him the GM.... I'd pack it in then and hate on them constantly until Dubas, and Sullivan are both fired in 25 years.

 

[PaulD]

Sure!

Erik Karlsson

Tristan Jarry

There's more, but that should cover it.

Karlsson won a Norris then had the worst season of his career under Sullivan.
Reilly Smith played top 6 winning the Stanley Cup them had the worst season of his career under Sullivan.
Graves, Bunting, Eller, Rackell, Petry all suck under Sullivan. Coincidence?
Three different GMs get Sullivan new players every summer. They all come in with high hope from fans and media. Then SPLAT under Sullivan. Team plays the same way no matter their roster make up.
Players who left Sullivans roster and immediately flourished on new team McCann, Rodriguez, Tanev, Matheson to name a few.
Since Sullivan last won a play off round in 2018 has went through about 50 new players, 3 GMs, multiple assistant coaches, numerous goaltenders, .....but he is untouchable ?
This guy thinks he deserves to out last Sidney Crosby ? lol

If Sullivan should not have been fired by now?....no coach should.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Downfall threads so hot this season

 

[BallardEra]

So when does Jim Montgomery take over?

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

So when does Jim Montgomery take over?

Speaking of Montgomery, it's just crazy to me that here's a guy who had something like a .715 winning percentage over two seasons and made the second round but got fired after a rough start. Meanwhile, Sullivan hasn't done shit all since 2017 and is on the verge of 3 straight playoff misses and he's still seen as a Golden God by ownership and Dubas.

Apparently FSG aren't as results oriented as we were told they were when they first bought the Pens.

 

[BraveCanadian]

Good team = good coach, bad team = bad coach.

Corollary:

Good goalie = good coach. Bad goalie = bad coach.

 

[I am Bettman]

Speaking of Montgomery, it's just crazy to me that here's a guy who had something like a .715 winning percentage over two seasons and made the second round but got fired after a rough start. Meanwhile, Sullivan hasn't done shit all since 2017 and is on the verge of 3 straight playoff misses and he's still seen as a Golden God by ownership and Dubas.

Apparently FSG aren't as results oriented as we were told they were when they first bought the Pens.

As a Bruins fan, he often lost us games with line juggling and most of our wins, especially last season, were because of the goalie tandem. He choked in the playoffs horribly in 2023, and he was one goal away from choking against the leafs in the first round last year. Also set a record for too many men penalties in the playoffs despite only playing two rounds.

 

[DearDiary]

As a Bruins fan, he often lost us games with line juggling and most of our wins, especially last season, were because of the goalie tandem. He choked in the playoffs horribly in 2023, and he was one goal away from choking against the leafs in the first round last year. Also set a record for too many men penalties in the playoffs despite only playing two rounds.

Blaming too many men on the coach is ridiculous. Lines are out on the ice for 40 seconds, players on the bench know who's out there. When the coach tells you you're switching out, it's takes a special level of stupid to jump on when the guy playing your position is still on the ice.

 

[ClydeLee]

Blaming too many men on the coach is ridiculous. Lines are out on the ice for 40 seconds, players on the bench know who's out there. When the coach tells you you're switching out, it's takes a special level of stupid to jump on when the guy playing your position is still on the ice.

Then who should teach these players when it's okay to jump?

Yes it's a penalty on coaches. Especially high when you have coaches very focused on line-matching. Quenneville got them a lot too, because he was eager to get lines swapped and had players push the limit.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I know it's been a matter of debate for a while but it's the end of the 2nd period and the Pens are down 3-0 against the Winnipeg Jets, I don't think they'll come back.

Would anyone be surprised if he got the axe after tonight?

It's a tough gig, you're hired to be fired, he had a ton of success but it's probably time to turn the page.

 

[BB79]

I know it's been a matter of debate for a while but it's the end of the 2nd period and the Pens are down 3-0 against the Winnipeg Jets, I don't think they'll come back.

Would anyone be surprised if he got the axe after tonight?

It's a tough gig, you're hired to be fired, he had a ton of success but it's probably time to turn the page.

I mean it isn't a game anyone in their right mind expects the Pens to win, so I can't imagine it being the straw that breaks the Penguin's back unless Winnipeg scores 5 in the 3rd and Pittsburgh puts up no fight whatsoever. I'm not watching so I don't know how they looked in periods 1&2

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Dubas is likely calling FSG everyday to get rid of other power players in the organization. After Sullivan, who is next?

 

[seafoam]

He's been done...

 

[Turin]

At this point they are just tanking. I don't understand why they want to tank with this core still around either, but whatever.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Good team = good coach, bad team = bad coach.

Corollary:

Good goalie = good coach. Bad goalie = bad coach.

They probably shouldn't have hire Kyle Dubas if they wanted a good team or good goalie.

 

[BallardEra]

Pens look so bad this year.

 

[wpgallday1960]

I find it kind of sad that Sid appears to be ending his career on a team going nowhere.