Sullivan Explains Why Size Isn’t Big Deal for Penguins
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — There’s not much question that the Pittsburgh Penguins became a better team when they acquired Reilly Smith from Vegas Wednesday.
It’s also clear that they didn’t become a bigger one.
For all that Smith can contribute — and make no mistake, that is a lot, in a lot of ways — one thing that he won’t upgrade is their vital statistics.
Smith checks in at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds; that’s the same height as the average Penguins player in 2023-24, and a few pounds lighter. Which is significant, because the Penguins were among the NHL’s lightest teams last season.
How much size and a relative lack of physicality had to do with the Penguins sitting out the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2006 can be debated — and has been, at length — and it has been noted that clubs that play a “heavy” game have had considerable postseason success in recent years.
Mike Sullivan surely is aware of that — the man, after all, is quite a student of the game — but he vigorously rejected the idea that the Penguins need to bulk up because doing so has paid off for the Golden Knights, among others.
The Penguins won Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017 with a style that stressed skating and skill, and Sullivan said Wednesday there is no need for them to stray from that formula, even as much as of the league tries to go in a different direction.
And while his perspective might not be shared by a significant portion of the fan base, Sullivan was adamant about sticking with what has worked in the past. And which he contends allows the Pittsburgh Penguins’ most important players to be at their most productive.
“There are different types of identities that bring teams success,” he said. “I think the most important thing is that we look at the people we have — and our core group is the most important, because they’re our difference-makers, they’re the engine that I think our team runs on — so we have to build a game plan that sets them up for success.
“If we were to try to copy the Stanley Cup champion every single year, we would be all over the map with the style of play, a philosophy of play, an identity of what Penguins hockey actually looks like. I think it’s more important that we’re true to our group.
“And our group has certainly shown — and there’s plenty of evidence — that we can be a competitive team when we surround these guys with the right people and we put a game on the ice that sets us up for success.”
Categorized:Penguins
They need to move on from this Jabtoni. He just can’t accept CHANGE
Agreed! Have not been competitive since 2017
How can they be competitive when the moron GM before him put them deliberately by giving ludicrous contract’s to underperforming player’s like Kappie and Jeff Carter ahhh I don’t mind Carter but his contract? Very questionable contract’s to say the least? Just my opinion, how about giving him a half decent lineup around sid and Geno then judge, but I happen to like Sullivan’s coaching and his game plan, Pittsburgh would look Soo stupid in the eye’s of players and people who have a general knowledge of the game. Let’s go Pens
There you go same old same old
Show’s what you think you know about hockey 🏒, but you can’t be serious because they haven’t had too much success as of late different times and team Sully is by far 1 of the best coaches in the NHL let alone the best coach I have ever seen and I’m Aa Pens can since I started paying attention to hockey which was the year after Mario was drafted,but Sully is also the only coach in Pens history to win back-to-back Stanley cup championships also and you say they need to get rid of him???
If the core had some physical protection, especially during the playoffs, I am certain they would have won some playoff series. Top 3 lines might be constructed in Sully vision, line # 4 aka the MAFIA LINE is paid for protection!!!
Headline could be: Sully explains the game has passed him by and why he will never win again!
Better headline: Sullivan says size doesn’t matter. 😂
You can have speed, size and toughness. That’s what Vegas and Florida brought to the table. Sully worries me, way to stubborn. It’s almost like if you’re taller than 6’2” and over 200 Lbs regardless of the players ability they aren’t considered.
I respect Mike Sullivan a ton. But I disagree with him massively. First off, Guentzel and Crosby have been brutalized over the recent years – especially in the playoffs because they are undersized. During the cup years, they were able to win because they had really strong net front with Hornqvist who drew a LOT of attention. They don’t have that anymore. Further, in the cup years 6 -7 years ago teams didn’t really counter the speed but now teams can and they can prey upon smaller teams…. clogging up the middle and simply crushing the smaller more talented players.… Read more »
Players with size would help the team, starting with net front presence at both ends of the rink. That said, the biggest problem with the team last season, in my opinion, was execution. Sully has a good game plan. He could use more skill on the bottom 2 lines and on defense and the penguins will be more successful. Just my 2 cents.
This idiot is a joke. Hextall saved his ass this year with huge Salary. Dubas has made it known he is the decision make thank God. Dubas knows this team in serious trouble. Media kisses ass because they think he’s a major source. Dubas will have control of lockers. Sully is major Cancer
I think sullivan has some input on players but ultimately it is up to his boss to get the players needed to help the team succeed. We will see if Dubas can do that. Sully getting blamed for everything is ridiculous, in my opinion.
Dan My prediction Sully will be fired
you don’t need a whole team to be heavy and big but you definitely need a balance of it on your team.
he is too stubborn to change or adapt
he will yet waste at least another year for the core!
his way has lost for 5 years mostly because other teams take liberties because they have answer or pushback or the players to dish out the big hits against there stars.
not excited about this team unless they add at least a element of size and physicality
I kind of agree that sully will be fired. New management regime will be watching him closely. If they are really bad, Dubas will have no hesitation bringing in his own guy. Especially if Dubas gets some better players in the lineup and they still don’t succeed. I don’t anticipate it happening though. Everything leads me to believe the opposite will happen and the players added will make a huge difference. Will they be a contender again? Maybe they sneak into the playoffs a steal a round and anything can happen from there. That is the best anyone can expect… Read more »
More pabulum from ass-clown Sullivan. Vast majority of teams have either gone heavier in a big way or at least tilted in that direction. VGK is bigger, more physical, and at least as fast if not faster than Sully’s lineup. Sadly I think it is going to take more under-achievement in the playoff results (or lack thereof) to get this bozo bounced. But I’m willing to see whom else Dubas brings in. Let’s circle back Sunday around 8pm.
He hasn’t been out of the first round since 2017 of the playoffs He is a head coach that does not know how to change his system It’s very sad that you cannot protect Is superstars like Is Crosby and Malkin. His system doesn’t work. It’s boring I wont be watching hockey again til hes gone .
Only problem with what you said is the pens did get out of the first round in 2018. Fell to caps in round 2 in 2018.
Size and depth are the two most important factors in the NHL game. But like any other sport, hockey is fluid. Lest we forget, speed and skill were in demand not that long ago. At some point, they will be again.
However. It’s good goaltending that wins cups, for instance look at the Bruins set all kinds of records but at the end of it all their goaltending got challenged and they were hung out to dry 4 game’s in a row to lose the series to a hungrier Florida team.