Penguins
Penguins Q&A: The Sullivan Question, Worries over Collapse
The Pittsburgh Penguins have a Mike Sullivan question, though it’s being framed in the wrong way by my many passionate members of the paying public. This fanbase can rival the Toronto folks when it comes time to get a good foot-stomping, fist-pounding furor going. After a winless roadie in which the Penguins badly blew a pair of 2-0 leads and were mud-stomped by the Carolina Hurricanes before leaving, and the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers on the road, there is plenty of emotion, and none of it is good.
This Q&A is being written on Sunday from a multitude of airports. My bosom buddies at WestJet, in conjunction with their BFFs at Delta Airlines, had a computer malfunction regarding my flight. Their computers logged me in as present but not as verified, even though their main system shows my paperwork as verified. The vicious cycle of customer service people calling each other to figure it out continued while my connection out of Calgary took off without me.
In the end, they determined it wasn’t either of their faults, but Hal, the computer that controls their companies and a space station, was naughty.
Eventually, an enterprising, though a bit haughty, agent figured out a way to get me home by flying me back to Edmonton later Sunday night, then catching a redeye connector to Atlanta in the morning and then to Pittsburgh. It was that or get stuck in the Chicago airport for most of Monday.
So, today and tomorrow I’m flying from Vancouver to Calgary…to Edmonton, to Atlanta, to Pittsburgh. The Canadian airline industry is straight out of Ayn Rand’s dystopia, but I digress.
With a Chili’s shaker of Patron margaritas in front of me (OK, maybe it’s my second shaker already), let’s do the Penguins Q&A, including the Sullivan question.
Penguins Q&A
When are we gonna fire Sully? Isn’t it a bit overdue?
— Kurri Carter (@KCarter8771) October 27, 2024
Answer: All right, let’s take a swing at the first pitch fastball.
This situation is far more complicated than, “They stink, fire the coach!” The premise is sound—the Penguins have struggled to show up for far too many games over the past season and a half. They’re making ghastly mistakes, making boneheaded rookie moves, and otherwise beating themselves like a pinata.
In an ordinary situation, the coach would have been gone after last season. However, Fenway Sports Group committed a lot of money to Sullivan, and they’re not fools. They run a tight ship–they’re not cheap, but they’re not into tossing Benjamins at problems, either. That’s one factor.
The hockey world widely regards Sullivan as one of the best. He’s an excellent coach who prepares his team well. I’ve had several players tell me how much more Sullivan prepares them than past coaches, and they love it.
So, the short answer is that it’s a bit complicated. A new coach could come in and get a bump, but show me a coach who could scold Evgeni Malkin as Sullivan did in 2016–but do it now when Malkin is 38. Yeah, the players would bounce that couch onto Fifth Avenue like half-eaten slice of pizza.
Try to find a person behind the bench who could get this sated group of well-meaning but aging veterans to be raw-meat-eating animals like they were. It’s just not happening at the coaching level.
So, if FSG doesn’t see a return on the investment of firing Sullivan, it’s not happening. At least not until there’s no other choice. However, I understand Penguins fans who feel that we’re there at the point of no return. I’ve had the same ponderances, and last March, I wrote a 1000-word column calling for it, and I had unanimous staff approval (but I didn’t hit publish because I had a bad feeling it wouldn’t age well. Newsflash. They went on a run).
The solution to get more intensity and a team capable of a cleaner game is higher than the coach. Still, Sullivan indeed has to make some fundamental changes in several areas. A form of a more positional defensive scheme might be all that’s left to do.
The point of his big contract was that FSG trusted him to make necessary changes, and some big ones, too.
Any market/realistic opportunity to move Karlsson?
— Matty (@MeestaPeemp) October 27, 2024
I have to think, yes, but they will not recoup the first and second-round picks they gave up. They’ll take a hit on the swap. Karlsson has been a problem with the D-zone coverage this season. Sullivan is playing the odds that he’ll get more offense from Karlsson than Karlsson gives up, but it’s not been the case. Two of the goals Saturday were on him.
I don’t know what GM Kyle Dubas and Karlsson are thinking. They will need to agree. I feel like there are a few fits out there, but Karlsson is a name to watch later this season.
Alright, here goes! These were the ones I didn’t see an answer to. Would love your thoughts and knowledge on. pic.twitter.com/AFGKcrelDb
— Jen Anderson (@jennabeee22) October 27, 2024
Jen invoked subscriber privilege with the triple dip. So, here goes.
Yes. There was talk that Barclay Goodrow would file a grievance against the Rangers over the summer because they waived him, knowing that San Jose would claim him–and San Jose was on his no-trade list. But it can be done. Carefully.
2. No. The organization doesn’t need to, either. Blomqvist’s development will be fine if he takes on a well-used backup role. Also, realize that the Penguins are not simply going through a Tristan Jarry charade. They want to salvage this, or he would have been on waivers already. So, if Jarry puts it back together, Blomqvist will be sent back to the AHL.
3. It’s impossible to know how Sullivan would perform in a different situation. He was good with the players coming up from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2015, but the world and game were much different then. Could he? Yes. But it might take a reset and a new situation for him to adapt to that type of environment again.
I do believe we’ll get a first-hand look sooner rather than later, especially if the team’s downward spiral continues.
With the season looking suspect already, how likely is it that Dubas will be selling off pieces in March…
— Peter Kadar (@PeteKadar) October 27, 2024
If this nonsense continues, it will happen long before March. Marcus Pettersson and Lars Eller are prime candidates because of their expiring contracts.
Read More: Give ‘Em Eller; Penguins Dish on Eller on the Ice & In Locker Room (+)
An off-the-map player to watch in that scenario would be Bryan Rust. His no-trade protection expires on July 1. Rust is a proud family man, and I don’t see him agreeing to a deal just anywhere, but imagine in him in copper and blue. Or blue and white? There are a dozen teams that he would take from very good to Stanley Cup favorites.
Rust was injured Saturday night, and it didn’t look minor. So, that might create more decisions, too.
Last call!
Do you think McGroaty’s skating is a problem and could hinder a call up?
— Mikey Graf (@mikey_graf) October 27, 2024
I really don’t know. McGroarty’s game is perfectly borderline right now. He didn’t record a point in four AHL games and is a minus-4. He’s got more adjusting and learning to do.
If Rust is injured longer term, Sam Poulin has seven points (2-5-7) in six games with WBS. Just saying…
And there goes the second shaker with salt.
This Q&A was shot in 3B.
Three beers and it looks good, eh.
Take off ya hoser! pic.twitter.com/fI9McFkYyX
— Dan Kingerski (@TheDanKingerski) October 25, 2024
Nothing from Marietta Dubas? I’m 99.9% sure that’s a fake twitter/X account (probably from a Toronto fan) but it is funny.
The Matheson trade looks worser and worser each day. Another HexBurke beaut.
When are we going to get an update on Rust?
Yes, Sullivan scolded Gino in 2016 or 8 years ago, but come on that was a long time ago.
Here’s an idea from Torts-Sullivan could take a game or two off. Let the assistants coach the team, while Sullivan watches from the box to get a different perspective. Maybe he can see something from above that he can’t see via video or from the bench. I thought it was a very innovative move by Tortarella. Can’t hurt to try.
He could take two months off and it wouldn’t change the talent level on this team, which is lacking.
That was a fun read Dan. I enjoy your writing style and sense of humor. BTW… I worked in management with Chili’s for 21 years and I know how good those Patron Margaritas are. Are the shakers still blue plastic?
I hope they keep Sully forever!!! He’s awesome!!
Top 3 picks for the next 3 or 4 years!! Waaaaaahoooooooooo!
Nobody can lose for years without changing the system like Sully!!
Karlsson was bad trade when it happened. Still bad trade.
GuentzeL was bad trade when it happened. Still bad trade.
Jarry bad signing when it happened. Still bad signing.
The management of this team whether rutherford, hextall or everyone’s beloved dubas, have made some good decisions. But on the whole over the last 7 years most have been bad ones.
I like Sullivan. Sometimes change is needed. But all I’ve seen year after year are bad player decisions with this organization. Not sure how winning is expected.
Find a team with a bad roster that does well.
This is only going to get worse.
Pretty hard for the forwards to score goals when they have to try and clean up their defence flaws.
Saying FSG is not cheap and then looking at how they ran the Red Sox into the ground is a hilarious comparison
Name me another coach, in any sport, that has lasted through 3 GMs!!! There is no accountability on this team as evidenced by Malkin taking 3 senseless penalties in a period last year and not missing a shift and him and 58 letting in same goal but were out for next PP. If that was POJ or Kapanen or other young player, benched and scratched!
It amazes me how no writer in this city has a clue. Let me say it slowly, the problem is the system Sullivan is using for this aging group is wrong. Sure Sullivan can coach but his one system trick will no longer work. There are different ways to play hockey for goodness sake. Either Sullivan changes system or fire him. If the players don’t go along with the changes move them.
First, loved the reference to Ayn Rand! Sounds like it was very appropriate. Stating “the world and hockey was very different” in 2015 is striking at the core of the Penguins issues. The older players for the Pens aren’t the players they were 10 years ago and, even though they are competitive (or they would not have had the achievements they have), sated is on point. The core’s focus is on three years from now as much as it is on today. Add to that the Sullivan system does not work. Not sure what will, but certainly Sullivan must drastically… Read more »
The talent is better than average. The line up is garbage. Why would anyone put EK and Letang on the same line ever, especially on the powerplay when the teams best defender is Petey? More importantly, fans aside…Jarry is still the best goaltender on the roster. It’s not his fault the de plays garbage in front of him. The last game he was pulled…. Karlsson score against his own team for 1. The second, the de left 3 screens in frontvof him, the 3rd was the 4th odd man rush in an early game. Blame the goalie for horrible coaching… Read more »