Speculation: The search for a new Head Coach - Rumors and Speculation

[Dr Johnny Fever]

The Walrus lives in Nova Scotia and was interviewed on radio a few days ago. No mention of what he was up to.

 

[Terry Yake]

maclean was an assistant with the leafs up until a few years back. don't think he's with another nhl team at the moment

he's also close to 70 so i can't see him being a candidate for any HC gigs

 

[emptynetter3]

IMO its all about philosophy of the coach.....he needs to be able to coach to the players we have and the direction the team is going and have the ability to change game plans as the team progresses....this is where the last 2 coaches failed, they both had "there way" of how the game needs to be played and the players needed to get on board....im not saying players get to do what they want but you need to create a environment that always them to thrive with the skills that they have.....IMO this team needs to play a fast and skilled game, d need to get the puck up to forwards and look for opportunities to join the attack...needs to be a uptempo team and special teams should be high pressure and always looking to attack, relying on skill to make plays...

i dont know who the guy for the job is but i just really really hope its a new school guy who allows his players the freedom to do what they do best.....it is a massive decision for PV that will make him feast or famine....

 

[Gliff]

Carle is for sure the upside pick. I doubt the Ducks would give him the 4/5 years that the blackhawks will give him.

Mcilvane needs to stay in the AHL. PV obviously views him as a future NHL coach, but it isn’t like other franchises are clamoring to get him so not need to force the issue now. Let him grow as a coach and grow a culture along with whatever coach we hire in the NHL.

 

[AngelDuck]

If they pick Carle I’ll be pretty excited because it’s a swing for the fences and if it pays off it’s going to be pretty special.

There’s risk involved in it but if they’re willing to take the gamble I’ll be excited.

I still say Woodcroft is the easy choice. Has experience, isn’t a total dinosaur like the other proven coaches, speaks well, commands respect

 

[Lord Flashheart]

With the kids coming back stronger and Dostal playing similar, I think with a new coach we can make it. Hell even an average powerplay would make a world of difference.

I agree, but the path is there. They are so bad in some areas just minor improvement will make a huge difference.

3rd last in PK%.
Last in PP %.
Last in FO%.

Give them league average special teams and that alone gets them in contention.
The kids getting better and/or adding a top 6 forward, I genuinely think they should be in the hunt.

I'll echo @AngelDuck on the sentiment that the right side of the blue line is an absolute killer. You could sell me almost everywhere else on the roster with continued growth from the core, a new coaching staff and bottom 6 upgrades, but Gudas/Trouba/Helleson at the stages they're at in their respective careers is probably enough to keep them out. Beeker figures out a way to add a legitimate top-4 RHD this summer, I'm willing to entertain the conversation if they can figure out special teams.

I don't think we're that far off, tbh. We just need an offensive-minded coach to help unlock our youths from being throttled down.

Verbeek wants 10 more wins, or 20 more points to become a playoff team. With a better EV offense, we can convert some of those OTL into Wins. Let's say we can nab 6 points out of 10 from OTL into Wins. That would leave us with 14 more points, or seven more wins.

If we go from an abysmal PP unit (last year) to a mediocre PP unit (this year), then we can earn an additional 16 more goals! Let's we earn roughly 70% of the 14 more points we need, which would be 10 points. Now, we're left with finding four more points to get to 100 points.

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One thing I hope the coaching will do is to not overwork Dostal. If given proper rest, Dostal can be giving us a far better chance at stealing points.

I'm replying to all at the same time to further expand on my post. I'm expecting a bit of a regression in goaltending (not convinced this is a sustainable level of goaltending), but I am also not expecting a huge jump in all the problematic areas, besides special teams, on defense and offense. Therefore, with right coaching choice I am expecting decent impovements in all areas at ES, but similar points tally. I would love to be wrong and this team makes, or is close to, playoffs next season.

 

[Rasp]

Im on the Carle train. Prefer to give a new up and comer a try over a dinosaur that has failed already

 

[Anaheim4ever]

Im on the Carle train. Prefer to give a new up and comer a try over a dinosaur that has failed already

Millennial coaches are starting to have good success. Sean McVay on the Rams, J.J Reddick on the Lakers.
Seems to be the way of the future.

 

[Dostwall]

I think Carle and Woodrcroft are the top two, but what do they do if they lose out on both to other teams?

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

I think Carle and Woodrcroft are the top two, but what do they do if they lose out on both to other teams?

When you're a rookie GM who took a weird swing on a rookie head coach for your rebuild, you're in a hell of a spot when your swing doesn't work out and you 100% have to get your next head coach hire right.

McIlvane is available and isn't going anywhere, so assuming he ISN'T the first choice and we miss out on our real first choice, we'll get someone we kinda wanted anyway. But it's really not ideal that Cronin didn't work out.

 

[HanSolo]

I think Carle and Woodrcroft are the top two, but what do they do if they lose out on both to other teams?

If the Pens fire Sullivan, which I'm not convinced they will, I think he should be the top choice.

 

[Static]

If the Pens fire Sullivan, which I'm not convinced they will, I think he should be the top choice.

Sullivan is known for his preference for veterans. I would be very wary of choosing him, because I don't think our roster is a great fit. If we were vet-heavy and looking to get over the hump, he would be my guy as well.

 

[HanSolo]

If they pick Carle I’ll be pretty excited because it’s a swing for the fences and if it pays off it’s going to be pretty special.

There’s risk involved in it but if they’re willing to take the gamble I’ll be excited.

I still say Woodcroft is the easy choice. Has experience, isn’t a total dinosaur like the other proven coaches, speaks well, commands respect

I'd be very apprehensive about a direct to head coach NCAA hire with no experience as an NHL assistant, but if they were going to go with anyone of that ilk, it's hard to top Carle. I'm open to it in the sense that I wouldn't be immediately pissed off but I'd be nervous to see how it goes.

I think as far as youth development is concerned, that should be better under Carle. As far as getting us through to the playoffs? Who knows?

 

[HanSolo]

Sullivan is known for his preference for veterans. I would be very wary of choosing him, because I don't think our roster is a great fit. If we were vet-heavy and looking to get over the hump, he would be my guy as well.

Didn't really know that about him but then again a lot of people don't seem to know what I know about Gallant. I'll take your word for it.

 

[Gliff]

Didn't really know that about him but then again a lot of people don't seem to know what I know about Gallant. I'll take your word for it.

Ya Pens fans have complained about it for years how unwilling he is to give younger guys a role over less capable vets.

 

[zegrassyknoll]

If they pick Carle I’ll be pretty excited because it’s a swing for the fences and if it pays off it’s going to be pretty special.

There’s risk involved in it but if they’re willing to take the gamble I’ll be excited.

I still say Woodcroft is the easy choice. Has experience, isn’t a total dinosaur like the other proven coaches, speaks well, commands respect

Agreed. Carle and Woody are 1A/1B for me and think both have pros and cons.

I will say, I think a rookie coach being younger and/or open-minded makes them a lot less risky. Cronin being new to the NHL was probably compounded by the fact that he was a) older and b) a hardass, two things that make you worse at making adjustments.

It's actually a quality I like about McIlvane. In his interview earlier this year he talks about how he had to totally change his coaching philosophy in between his first and second year in SD and the ability to do that goes a really long way in my eyes.

 

[All Mighty]

Ya Pens fans have complained about it for years how unwilling he is to give younger guys a role over less capable vets.

To be fair, it’s not like they’ve had even close to the caliber of young players and prospects that we have. Who is the best young D prospect they’ve had in the last 5 years? PO Joseph? (Not counting Pickering, who is a rookie pro this year)

 

[HanSolo]

Agreed. Carle and Woody are 1A/1B for me and think both have pros and cons.

I will say, I think a rookie coach being younger and/or open-minded makes them a lot less risky. Cronin being new to the NHL was probably compounded by the fact that he was a) older and b) a hardass, two things that make you worse at making adjustments.

It's actually a quality I like about McIlvane. In his interview earlier this year he talks about how he had to totally change his coaching philosophy in between his first and second year in SD and the ability to do that goes a really long way in my eyes.

Well. To be fair Cronin wasn't new to the NHL. He spent a number of seasons as an assistant coach.

 

[zegrassyknoll]

Well. To be fair Cronin wasn't new to the NHL. He spent a number of seasons as an assistant coach.

Makes it even worse IMO

 

[Terry Yake]

Sullivan is known for his preference for veterans. I would be very wary of choosing him, because I don't think our roster is a great fit. If we were vet-heavy and looking to get over the hump, he would be my guy as well.

pretty sure the only reason sullivan is even employed by the pens at this point is because crosby likes him. pens fans have wanted him gone for years

 

[MCB]

I guess I'm on team woodcroft, admittedly I don't know much about the potential head coaches, but from what I've read on here I am going with him. Despite the fact the last time we hired a coach who had only coached the oilers it wasn't the best . I know carle is the young new thing, but after first year NHL HC Cronin I just want someone we know will be dependable.

 

[70sSanO]

I am pleased that Verbeek owned up to his mistake and fired Cronin.

I hope that he realizes that talk is cheap and results are everything. I remember how he said he and Cronin talked for hours before selecting him.

I really want Verbeek to realize that hiring a a HC means he is not the HC. Pat has to shoulder a significant part of the blame for any direction he gave Cronin.

The worst result would be to have another coach that starts flailing around when the team stumbles. Anyone can coach a winning team, a good coach makes the right adjustments to get a team back to winning.

That was probably one of Cronin’s biggest flaws. Trying to stay the course because he really didn’t know what adjustments to make. And then falling back on the vets to right the ship. That works in the minors, but it doesn’t in the NHL.

Pat better be asking the right questions and then stay in his lane once he hires.

John

 

[Static]

To be fair, it’s not like they’ve had even close to the caliber of young players and prospects that we have. Who is the best young D prospect they’ve had in the last 5 years? PO Joseph? (Not counting Pickering, who is a rookie pro this year)

John Marino, probably. The only young player that played in his lineup that had any sustained success was guentzel, who was moved because he wouldn't sign.

That's not true, pettersson was young when he got there.

 

[All Mighty]

John Marino, probably. The only young player that played in his lineup that had any sustained success was guentzel, who was moved because he wouldn't sign.

That's not true, pettersson was young when he got there.

Well both Marino and Pettersson played quite a bit, so I’m not sure what the issue is.(Based on your message, you might have quoted a 2nd message that I can’t see)

EDIT: The Pens have also been in win-now mode since Sullivan was hired, so I find it hard to blame him for preferring veterans, especially when the Pens haven’t had many good prospects in that time.

Anyway, I believe Friedman said on a recent podcast that he doesn’t think Sullivan will be fired, so this is all probably meaningless discussion.

 

[Static]

Well both Marino and Pettersson played quite a bit, so I’m not sure what the issue is.(Based on your message, you might have quoted a 2nd message that I can’t see)

EDIT: The Pens have also been in win-now mode since Sullivan was hired, so I find it hard to blame him for preferring veterans, especially when the Pens haven’t had many good prospects in that time.

Anyway, I believe Friedman said on a recent podcast that he doesn’t think Sullivan will be fired, so this is all probably meaningless discussion.

Absolutely. It is hard to fault him when management gave him few young guys to work with. Still, I'd like to know why guentzel left, and almost zero young forwards had any success there. Was he the coach when McCann was there?