3 Thoughts: Karlsson vs. Head Coaches; It’s Dubas’s Team
This Pittsburgh Penguins offseason will begin like none since 2014.
The last time the Penguins embarked upon a summer coaching search, it went about as poorly as one could possibly go. No coach wanted any part of the gaggle of coach killers and underachievers that led the Penguins roster. Before the team finally found Mike Johnston, one candidate flew into Pittsburgh, took the interview, and skipped town while the team prepared an offer.
This time, the organization is not the gong show that it was when upper management chased off a bevy of qualified general manager and coaching candidates by inserting itself into hockey operations.
There’s no guarantee that Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas will get his top choice, especially if that choice becomes University of Denver coach David Carle, who was already at the top of several teams’ lists before Dubas parted with Mike Sullivan. Still, the Penguins should not have a problem attracting quality candidates this time.
It’s a different time, and instead of the desperation to fix a breaking franchise, there is optimism for the future.
3 Penguins Thoughts
1. Erik Karlsson, Coach Killer?
Sullivan becomes the third coach Karlsson has seen fired since 2018. Months into his San Jose Sharks tenure, Pete DeBoer got the boot. Two seasons later, San Jose kicked Bob Boughner to the curb.
Karlsson also saw the Ottawa Senators fire three coaches (Cory Clouston, 2009-2011; Paul MacLean, 2011-2014; and Dave Cameron, 2014-2016) in his first six years.
Six firings in 14 years is quite a bit. Karlsson has not had one head coach for more than three seasons and a few months (MacLean).
Karlsson’s play with the Penguins has been a fraction of his capability, and he’s dodged or downplayed questions about his comfort with the system. When PHN complimented his electric play at the Four Nations Face-Off, he replied with a little smirk, “I can still get around when I need to.”
Had he said such to coaches, they may have reacted a little differently than I did. Then again, after his long meeting with Dubas on clean-out day, maybe he did?
Now, imagine a general manager broaching the subject of acquiring Karlsson this summer. Sure, a head coach, even Rod Brind’Amour of the Carolina Hurricanes, might run screaming while creating a cartoon-like hole in the wall.
2. Â Kris Letang, Kyle DubasÂ
Letang dealt with numerous but unspecified injuries this season. It obviously affected his play. Not only were his offensive totals well below expectations, but his defensive zone work was uncharacteristically soft.
There have been few Penguins players as misunderstood or undervalued by the local fanbase, but Letang’s hampered play lived down to critics’ evaluations for the first time.
It’s probably not possible for even the player to know how much the injuries limited him. It’s probably impossible for anyone to know how much his more serious issue (repairing a small hole in his heart to prevent future strokes) decreased his output.
Letang is a warrior. When he’s healthy, what is overlooked is gritty defense. He can be a scrappy net-front battler, as well as a risky offensive blue liner.
I will also believe that he should have been the member of the championship core to leave, for his own benefit. A new fanbase to sing his praises, rather than the sometimes snarling evaluations from Pittsburgh, would have pushed his public standing–much like the growing legend of Marc-Andre Fleury.
However, if Letang isn’t better next season, Dubas is showing a willingness to make difficult or unpopular decisions. It could be a salary cap nightmare, but one that Dubas endures to create space for a young defender, such as Jack St. Ivany or Harrison Brunicke.
3. Dubas
The Penguins are Dubas’s organization now. There are few front office holdovers. There will be no more rumors that Sullivan has Fenway Sports Group’s ear, or that Sullivan dictates roster decisions, or any of the other fingers that have been pointed.
From Karlsson to trading Jake Guentzel and now firing Sullivan, the results are now exclusively on Dubas.
The next coach will be Dubas’s. The next roster will almost exclusively be Dubas’s. And the next coach won’t have nearly the gravitas or autonomy that Sullivan had. Recall Dubas double-checking with Sullivan before acquiring Philip Tomasino–Dubas wanted to make sure Sullivan could “give him enough runway.”
The next coach probably won’t have the same type of conversation.
For his part, Dubas will need to select better projects, too. Tomasino was given ample opportunity in Nashville. It shouldn’t be a surprise that he was a non-factor for long stretches. Tomasino played in 51 games for the Penguins, but scored slightly more than 33% of his points in an eight-game stretch in February.
Kevin Hayes spent plenty of time in the press box and didn’t seem to impress Sullivan, who answered questions about Hayes with more challenges and some backhanded compliments. Dubas didn’t mention Conor Timmins in his end-of-season presser, and Timmins’s play was a bit problematic (in keeping with the Penguins’ season theme).
Even Tommy Novak is more question mark than optimism after he suffered what became a season-ending injury the team originally termed day-to-day just two games into his Penguins tenure.
It appears Dubas’s best work has been with prospects. Not only did Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen sparkle when recalled to the NHL, but others are on the way. The team’s player development staff did a good job with Owen Pickering, too.
The Dubas Penguins are here.
Well said I’m impressed that he told Syd he was doing what is best for the franchise. Here’s hoping he finds a coach who can facilitate the development of the youth movement.
Don’t think you can blame Karlsson for getting coaches fired. Of the 6 coaches that were listed, the only one who is still relevant is Pete DeBoer (and it’s not like he’s actually won anything).
The Penguins problem is that they have 2 aging, completely offensive minded defensemen who aren’t living up to their standards nor their hype. The only way I see Karlsson staying is if Letang goes. Either way, one of them has to be gone by opening night this fall.
After Sullivan’s dismissal, it’s made me rethink Dubas and his off-season plan. I see them keeping EK65 – seeing how he, Crosby and the remainder of the core gel with the new HC. The exception is probably Letang. I certainly appreciate his efforts over his tenure and contributions to the Championships, but dependent on his health, I could see him on LTIR for the remainder of the contract. If he is healthy enough to play, I couldn’t see a more perfect relocation than MTL, may not even need to retain salary, but will free up the right side for Brunicke… Read more »
I was thinking the exact same thing regarding EK65 and Letang. Karlsson will get a longer leash than he would have. Letang could be told he needs to go on LTIR. That would follow a similar pattern as the Capitals and Nick Backstrom. Dubas seems to be taking notes on how other organizations handle this transition. Maybe he follows suit on Letang.
I have seen nothing saying that Letang will not be able to play. So everyone coming out with the LTIR stuff need to pump the brakes on that.
Certainly nothing concrete, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility. He may well return to form – his health concerns were heavily weighing on his performance.
I was thinking similar, also along the lines of Carey Price in MTL. All dependent on Letang’s health whether LTIR or trade. With a new HC comes a different style of play and atmosphere; they still, as of now, have Quinn who did revamp the PowerPlay and maybe the new staff can get the best out of EK65.
It does feel like there is sometype of shadow from the Caps org here. Not a bad thing.
Y’all, hate to break it to you but Crosby does not appear to like playing with Karlsson. There is a reason grzelcyk was running point with 4 forwards on the PP since like December. Just watch crosby’s body language as Karlsson goes 1 v 3 to entire the zone, or passes up quick safe pass and instead fires a shot through traffic to the far corner…away from forecheck, and then gives up odd man rush because he’s caught in bad pinch. And again I personally watched Crosby, Malkin and Letang all go apoplectic on Karlsson after he screwed up a… Read more »
That does appear evident. An option is to play EK on the second pair (with a complementary LD) so he is primarily on the ice with the 2/3 lines – which will have players who go to net and let Karlsson work his magic. Not to mention if they put Malkin on Sid’s LW, that almost eliminates Malkin and Sid on the ice with EK. I would almost forget about the prior performances, since the coaching change, a lot, if not all of the Sully system will be changed. There is going to be a whole new style to the… Read more »
Agree with you. I have also watched Crosbys body language after scoring a goal. Karlsson wants to crawl to him but Sid seems very disinterested in talking to him.
It wasn’t very publicized, by Washington didn’t give Backstrom much of a choice in the LTIR designation. That was my point. Not that Letang wouldn’t think he could still play, more that Dubas makes the bold decision that the Pens don’t want him anymore.
FGMJR brought Phil kessel in to be “the winger for Sid” only to realize that kessel wants the puck on his stick all the time. Sid also wants to the puck. so there wasn’t a fit. malkin also wanted the puck. so there wasn’t a fit. it was FHCMS who dropped kessel to the 3rd line, and gave the pens 3 lines that could both forecheck and score. then “grandpa Jim” dumped hagelin, panicked & brought in Reeves and shit-canned hornqvist. the team became top heavy, slow, and lost their emotional leader. the winning stopped. Rutherford bailed and FGMRH brought… Read more »
EK has to go regardless of what happens with LeTang. Maybe not an either/or. Maybe both since in LeTang’s situation can’t rule out medical retirement….2 strokes, neck surgically repaired, and the heart procedure. Dude’s been through a lot.
Need him to essentially go on LTIR so he isn’t a drain on the cap with over 35 contract. Medical retirement on over 35 contract is still a cap hit. Put him on LTIR and drive the zamboni
Dubas should ask Letang and Malkin to retire or allow a team to acquire them by waiving NMC.
I’ve got some bad news–if either retired, the remainder of their contract still counts 100% against the cap until it expires.
Some people just don’t read the articles and should already know that…
Right now, if Malkin were gone, who plays 2C? The best course of action would be for Dubas to acquire a 2C and let Malkin play out the last season of the contract on the wing. Letang, that is more complicated. Maybe he is ready for a change of scenery and gets traded with salary retention. It all depends on his physical condition when camp comes and the season rolls around.I don’t know that teams would even want to trade for him given his play last season along with injury and illness history. Best case scenario is that he feels… Read more »
With 71, who plays 2C next year? *rimshot*
Exactly. If 71 is our 2C we are screwed. He cant do it anymore. 2C is biggest need after 2 BIG D men.
Also, kind of my point. He has essentially been filling in there the past couple of seasons with no one really to replace him. Again, that is not Malkin’s fault that he is being used in a position to not succeed. He had a nice little run with Sid while briefly playing wing last season. Ideally, that is where he should be next season!
He really should be a second pairing D-Man at this point.
Dan, I’ve been wondering why you’ve characterized Tomasino as a failed experiment. It’s his streakiness? He has 3 stretches of 6 game pointless streaks, with a couple hot streaks and a few periods of no significant streaks either way. Still, counting only his time in Pittsburgh this year, he was on an 18 goal pace over a full season. Judging by his pedigree as a former 1st round pick, that’s not very good, but for the 4th rounder the Penguins used to get him, a potential 20 goal 3rd liner with enough of an offensive skillset to bump up to… Read more »
If he is with a guy like Geno he will get points if he is with Hayes he wont
Avery Hayes provides all that and grit
Karlsson, an unfortunate career, culminating with a catastrophic choice to sign for the Pens. Maybe it wasn’t his choice. Considering what we gave up for him, I doubt others couldn’t match that. Maybe SJ ruined him by giving him that huge contract. Tanger should leave. There’s nothing left here but years of waiting and high draft picks. Guess who from the Pens organization will be in the playoffs next year? Those that left. Sully (if he takes another job) , Jake… I mean, even Dumo, Tanger’s long time partner, is in the playoffs. Kris, just go somewhere where you’ll have… Read more »
Dan, good summary. That is the reason I started saying that the team was a team of misfits. Especially when you add in the other 30 yr olds and Lizotte to your list.
The team should not keep Karlsson. Way bigger chance of downside than upside.
Were there some strays aimed at David Morehouse in this article?