The Rise And Fall Of Mike Sullivan...

[BallardEra]

Yup, but it's a million times less depressing because they won 3 Cups instead of 0.

So true.

 

[Stickpucker]

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.

Agreed the chef can still cook but the ingredients are not there.

 

[BallardEra]

I guess their season comes down to this 7 game road trip where they are 6-10-5 on the road so far:

 

[BallardEra]

Do the Pens bring him back for next season?

I can't see how they could with him missing the playoffs for 3 straight seasons.

 

[DitchMarner]

Do the Pens bring him back for next season?

I can't see how they could with him missing the playoffs for 3 straight seasons.

To reach 92 points, they'll have to go 22-9 in their final 31 games. A total of 92 points isn't guaranteed to get them into the playoffs, but they'll probably need at least that many to have a realistic shot.

There's no reason to believe that team can put together a record like that. They should sell off whatever pieces they can. But I'm not sure they're going to fully commit to a rebuild. Maybe they'll try a Washington type of retool. They really should hire a new coach if they do that.

 

[Bleedred]

Do the Pens bring him back for next season?

I can't see how they could with him missing the playoffs for 3 straight seasons.

I’ve been saying for a while that he’s going to the Rangers. But I’m also surprised the Pens brought him back this last offseason.

Even if the Rangers come all the way back to make the playoffs, I think Lavi is toast if they don’t at least make the cup finals. I was saying that before their death march started in November.

Enter Mike Sullivan.

 

[BallardEra]

There's no reason to believe that team can put together a record like that. They should sell off whatever pieces they can. But I'm not sure they're going to fully commit to a rebuild. Maybe they'll try a Washington type of retool. They really should hire a new coach if they do that.

They will not go full rebuild until Sid retires.

 

[wetcoast]

To reach 92 points, they'll have to go 22-9 in their final 31 games. A total of 92 points isn't guaranteed to get them into the playoffs, but they'll probably need at least that many to have a realistic shot.

There's no reason to believe that team can put together a record like that. They should sell off whatever pieces they can. But I'm not sure they're going to fully commit to a rebuild. Maybe they'll try a Washington type of retool. They really should hire a new coach if they do that.

They should have started doing things like firing Sullivan and doing a rebuild 3 years ago but most teams just can't stomach doing it.

 

[PaulD]

Sully still showing grit.

So does an old mangy dog

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

I feel like it might be coming now? Like the season's done but getting absolutely destroyed by the Flyers, their rival team, homestand coming up? We'll see.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

He's probably not great, but their best player under 30 years old is Michael Bunting lol.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

I’ve been saying for a while that he’s going to the Rangers. But I’m also surprised the Pens brought him back this last offseason.

Even if the Rangers come all the way back to make the playoffs, I think Lavi is toast if they don’t at least make the cup finals. I was saying that before their death march started in November.

Enter Mike Sullivan.

Suddenly it makes sense- keeping Sully is just a spite move at this point. He’s coaching as poorly as he can, and they’re like “no, we know we suck, maybe you’d have some success there. So.. no. Not yet.”

 

[SomeDude]

I feel like it might be coming now? Like the season's done but getting absolutely destroyed by the Flyers, their rival team, homestand coming up? We'll see.

You know what we call getting destroyed by a division rival? Tuesday.

 

[LevelingSolo]

There's no way they can bring him back next year right?

 

[NVious]

There's no way they can bring him back next year right?

He's lulling the rest of the NHL (and the Pens) into thinking he isn't good.

He has us all right where he wants us.

 

[Pancakes]

There's no way they can bring him back next year right?

As a Pens fan they can and they will.

Gotta remember the Pens aren't even trying to contend. It's a rebuild in all but name. It might be different if Dubas was trying to win but he's not. Not this year anyways.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

As a Pens fan they can and they will.

Gotta remember the Pens aren't even trying to contend. It's a rebuild in all but name. It might be different if Dubas was trying to win but he's not. Not this year anyways.

Dubas absolutely was trying to win when he spent all that money.

 

[Pancakes]

Dubas absolutely was trying to win when he spent all that money.

Sure. And then when that failed spectacularly he traded Guentzel and ever since trading Guentzel it's been blatantly obvious that the Pens are rebuilding. Every move or series of moves Dubas has made since then have been trying to restock the system.

So he's probably not sitting there saying damn you Mike Sullivan you need to be better. He knows the Pens weren't going to likely make the playoffs this year or even come that close.

 

[LaCarriere]

Don't know that anyone else behind the bench would make enough of a difference for it to matter. Do you give the guy some credit for his two cups, or kick him to the curb when you weren't expecting to contend really anyways?

 

[Bozo Nicholson]

Sure. And then when that failed spectacularly he traded Guentzel and ever since trading Guentzel it's been blatantly obvious that the Pens are rebuilding. Every move or series of moves Dubas has made since then have been trying to restock the system.

So he's probably not sitting there saying damn you Mike Sullivan you need to be better. He knows the Pens weren't going to likely make the playoffs this year or even come that close.

As a Lightning fan, I’d like to send out my thanks to Kyle Dube-ass.

 

[Tie Domi Esquire]

Sure. And then when that failed spectacularly he traded Guentzel and ever since trading Guentzel it's been blatantly obvious that the Pens are rebuilding. Every move or series of moves Dubas has made since then have been trying to restock the system.

So he's probably not sitting there saying damn you Mike Sullivan you need to be better. He knows the Pens weren't going to likely make the playoffs this year or even come that close.

Yeah, because he is not good at his job. Dubas is trying his best. This is just the best he can do.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

Sullivan is still a good coach and hardly what's wrong with the Pens. did people expect a no doubt playoff team with that roster?

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Sullivan is still a good coach and hardly what's wrong with the Pens. did people expect a no doubt playoff team with that roster?

No.

But we expected to be a wee bit better than the festering pile of dogshit we’ve been for quite a few years now.

 

[benfranklin]

Sounds like Sabres fans blaming coaches over and over. Eventually you blame the GMs who assembled the team, poorly.

 

[Bleedred]

Even if you absolve Sullivan of blame, he's been the head coach there for 10 years, they haven't won a playoff series in 7 years and they're all but mathematically eliminated from a playoff spot for the third year in a row.

The only head coaches who survive 3 years in a row of no playoffs are the head coaches for clearly rebuilding teams. And even sometimes then they go after 3 years.