Coaching Change Coming for Penguins? Doesn’t Seem Likely

CRANBERRY — Kyle Dubas, the Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager, didn’t quite commit to keeping Mike Sullivan as coach when he met with reporters at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex Monday.

But he came close.

Awfully close.

About as close as he could without actually doing it.

“(Sullivan) is under contract, and he was very clear with his intentions (to reporters about remaining the head coach) last week, and what he’s expressed in our conversations,” Dubas said. “He’s an elite-level coach, as he’s shown throughout his time here. … There’s always the point that very few coaches in that realm often want to see a team through this, but he’s been very open about this is what he wants to do, so we’re just seeking to reaffirm that. As long as he’s on that side of it, then we’ll roll with that.”

Although there is a vocal segment of the Penguins’ fan base that has been advocating for a coaching change for several seasons, Dubas said flatly that public sentiment does not play a role in such decisions because “we have to do everything that’s best for the Pittsburgh Penguins.”

Dubas added that he plans to meet with Sullivan Tuesday as part of his usual postseason routine.

“I go through the same process at the end of every season,” he said. “I’m in the midst of it right now, where I meet with the heads of every department.”

In his wide-ranging, end-of-season press conference, Dubas also:

*** Described his forward and goaltending groups as “being in a good spot,” but offered a harsh assessment of the defense corps, calling it an area of “major concern,” and suggesting that significant changes to it might be coming during the offseason. He was particularly critical of the team’s left-side defensemen and cited Owen Pickering and Jack St. Ivany as two prospects who could challenge for jobs in the NHL this fall.

*** Dubas said he anticipates a “robust competition” during training camp for the goaltending spots on the NHL roster, with returning vets Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic trying to fend off prospects such as Joel Blomqvist, Filip Larsson and Sergei Murashov for jobs.

*** Acknowledged that having a constantly “rotating cast” of wingers was an issue for second-line center Evgeni Malkin. “As he continues to age, we have to do a better job of making that support (for Malkin) more consistent,” Dubas said. He indicated that Tommy Novak, who worked with Malkin for three games before suffering a season-ending injury, might be used with him again in the fall.

*** Offered an at-times caustic assessment of defenseman Erik Karlsson, who has not performed to expectations for most of his two seasons with the Penguins. “Erik, I think, will forever be a polarizing figure,” he said, adding that, “I think he’s shown throughout the year that he has another level to him.” However, he also said that, “we expect him to be one of the people who pulls us from where we’re at to contention.”

*** Singled out Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Tristan Broz as a forward who did not make it to the NHL this season, in part because he had a severe case of mononucleosis, but could compete for a spot with the parent club at training camp.

*** Praised the play of wingers Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, both of whom have been adamant about their desire to remain with the Penguins, but made no promises that either, let alone both, is immune to being traded. “If there are moves that are going to be there, (to make) the team better in the short and long run, we’ll look at anything, with anybody. That’s just where we’re at.”

*** Indicated that he again has ownership’s permission to spend to the salary-cap ceiling, but sounded as if, at least for the Penguins, the increase in the cap likely would be reflected more in trades for younger players than in free-agent signings.

*** Reiterated that his objective is to transform the Penguins into legitimate championship contenders, not simply upgrade them enough to “sneak into the playoffs.” He volunteered that seriously challenging for a Stanley Cup next season would be a “tremendous accomplishment for the players,” which made it clear he does not anticipate that being the case.