The Rise And Fall Of Mike Sullivan...

[Pierre Larouche]

Sullivan's a great coach. No one could magically transform this old, old roster into something past it's prime. The topic is akin to trolling.

 

[Offtheboard412]

Sullivan's a great coach. No one could magically transform this old, old roster into something past it's prime. The topic is akin to trolling.

They haven't won a playoff series since 2018. I can't think of a single coach that's had that kind of leniency with the talent he's had available to him. They've essentially accomplished nothing since Crosby turned 30.

 

[BallardEra]

3 straight wins.

Sullivan rocking the smug face emoji.

 

[DitchMarner]

3 straight wins.

Sullivan rocking the smug face emoji.

The competition for the WC2 spot in the East is pathetic. The thing is that there's a lot of it.

A number of teams are hovering around .500. When a team falls well under (like PIT did), it can be hard to make up ground because of the three point games involving teams ahead and the likelihood of at least one of those teams going on a hot streak.

The worst thing for the Penguins would be finishing about tenth in the EC again. That might be enough to make ownership think Sullivan deserves another shot, and once again the Penguins won't get a high pick if that happens.

 

[MCR74]

To be fair, Kyle hasn't given him much to work with this year.

 

[BallardEra]

The worst thing for the Penguins would be finishing about tenth in the EC again. That might be enough to make ownership think Sullivan deserves another shot, and once again the Penguins won't get a high pick if that happens.

This is exactly what they will do. Like those Leafs teams towards the end of Sundin’s tenure in Toronto.

 

[PaulD]

The Karlsson trade allowed them to get rid of bad contracts, he was gotten for essentially nothing. That was not a bad trade in a vaccum

Karlsson is a " bad contract" ....that will only get worse

To be fair, Kyle hasn't given him much to work with this year.

Sullivan had been choking this team long before Kyle was even a notion in Pittsburg.

 

[BallardEra]

League worst 3.70 GAA but that WC2 race is such a joke that Sullivan has 9 lives.

 

[DitchMarner]

League worst 3.70 GAA but that WC2 race is such a joke that Sullivan has 9 lives.

I expect the Sens and Bruins to be the two Wild Card teams in the East, but imagine if the Caps finish first and the Penguins somehow manage to grab the WC2 spot, setting up another WSH/PIT show down.

 

[Mike C]

Easy Sullivan. The guy has to die of old age at some point

NYI fans feel the same about uncle Louie

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Karlsson is a " bad contract" ....that will only get worse


Sullivan had been choking this team long before Kyle was even a notion in Pittsburg.

PittsburgH***

We fought hard for that H.

 

[PaulD]

PittsburgH***

We fought hard for that H.

apologies

 

[Rinkrat718]

He will be hired instantly if fired. The Pens are old now, and GM has traded away so many young players and picks going for it over the past 6 - 7 years. And goaltending has been suspect for a while also.

 

[BallardEra]

Insane that Sid and Malkin have a combined 19 goals after half a season.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Insane that Sid and Malkin have a combined 19 goals after half a season.

They’re old

Father Time is undefeated

 

[BallardEra]

They’re old

Father Time is undefeated

Sad dude. I love this generation with them and Ovie.

Nice to see MAF last night joke around with Ovie.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Sad dude. I love this generation with them and Ovie.

Nice to see MAF last night joke around with Ovie.

Yep.

We ‘re now officially old.

 

[BallardEra]

41 points after 41 games.

Pens look cooked

How can Crosby and Malkin only have a combined 19 goals halfway through the season?

 

[wgknestrick]

He will be hired instantly if fired. The Pens are old now, and GM has traded away so many young players and picks going for it over the past 6 - 7 years. And goaltending has been suspect for a while also.

So was Bylsma

 

[DrDangles]

Blaming this on an aging core would actually make sense if there had been obvious decline over the last 5 years but there really hasn't been. Sid has been a great 1C, Geno is a 2C that can still dominate for stretches, and up until this season Letang was playing above his paygrade. The team has been plagued by the same issues dating back to 19-20 despite significant roster turnover, which to me obviously points towards the system. NHL coaches have short shelf lives for a reason, Sully should've been canned after the meltdown against the Rangers.

It's frustrating to watch the organization waste the final years of two legends that deserve much better.