Time for Sullivan to Send LOUD Messages to Penguins Real Problems
VANCOUVER — The Pittsburgh Penguins’ best players are their biggest problem. There can be no other conclusion after the team dropkicked away a 2-0 lead against the Vancouver Canucks in the second period Saturday, giving up four goals in less than six minutes.
Vancouver scored three goals in 65 seconds, setting a franchise record, and the Penguins lost their fifth straight (0-4-1). It was the second time in four games the Penguins gave away a 2-0 lead. The level of play going back five games to the loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in the game before the road trip has been more abyssal than acceptable.
Sure, social media is up in arms, calling for coach Mike Sullivan to be lifted by his belt loops and ushered out like a drunk who tried to ignore Last Call. And Sullivan deserves a healthy measure of blame for the recent no-show losses that too closely resemble the debacles from last season.
But Sullivan isn’t the biggest problem.
The Penguins’ best players are.
“I think a lot of it starts with the mindset, certain habits, or a certain resilience that we have to have. We need some pushback. And we need to do a better job–when you look at some of the goals they scored, give Vancouver credit,” Sullivan said. “They’ve got a quick strike offense, but we didn’t help ourselves with our decisions with the puck when our defenseman would join the play.
Karlsson
No coach on the planet can be held responsible when Sidney Crosby leaves his defensive post, perhaps because he didn’t trust Erik Karlsson to be at his. Of course, Karlsson posted a minus-3 and looked maddeningly out of position doing so. He allowed J.T. Miller to get behind him for a breakaway chance, then allowed Miller to knock him out of the way for the rebound goal.
Daniel Sprong–yes, the same player whom the Penguins traded back in 2019 for Marcus Pettersson after he failed to crack the lineup–the one and the same who has bounced around the league from Anaheim, Washington, Detroit, and now Vancouver–blew past Karlsson at the red line like Karlsson was a hitchhiker, setting up the game-winning goal.
Karlsson finished at a minus-2 because Sullivan loaded up on his star players in the third period, and Crosby outsmarted three Canucks to create a breakaway chance for Evgeni Malkin.
There are the failed clears and defensive assignment gaffes time and again. The absolute collapses within games and extending over multiple games point fingers at the inside of the locker room.
“(We) just can’t chase a mistake with another one. I think that there’s got to be a certain awareness when we do give up one that we’ve got to follow it up with a good shift or at least get the puck back and try to counter that,” said Crosby. “We can’t get on our heels.”
Saturday night, the perpetually reliable Bryan Rust charged into three defenders rather than simply chipping the puck deep into the offensive zone. The mistake directly led to one of the Canucks rapid strike goals.
“(We) turned the puck over the blue line. You can’t have the D joining the rush when there’s really nothing there; that’s a recipe for disaster. That’s one example. There were a number of issues on defensive zone faceoffs. We don’t get it out because guys missed assignments on the line of scrimmage, which I think are elemental. Those are things that I think we can control, and I think we have the ability to get better in those situations.
“But it boils down to commitment at the level of the level of attention to detail.”
It’s entirely bewildering that a coach of a veteran team has to lecture on basic or elemental details. It’s time to send that big message.
It’s time for Sullivan to take a stand and send an unmistakable and stinging message. It’s time to ruffle feathers and call out players. It’s time to set aside feelings or relationships and punish players who fail to execute the basics time and again.
There are only a few things some star players understand: decreased ice time, less power play time, or a heaping cheesy plate of press box nachos.
And it’s time for the coach to tell the players if anyone doesn’t like it, there’s the door.
First up should be Karlsson, whose laissez-faire defense has cost the Penguins dearly.
Accountability or Avoidance?
The funny thing is that Sullivan spent years as coach John Tortorella’s hammer. As the assistant coach, Sullivan played the heavy in New York. In 2013-14, he was part of the internal battle with the Sedin twins in Vancouver, pushing them to conform to Tortorella’s game.
However, the friction in Vancouver went horribly awry for all involved. The Sullivan-Tortorella regime lasted just one year in Vancouver, and the pair never coached together again.
Perhaps that experience is keeping Sullivan from delivering some badly needed messages with a verbal and coaching sledgehammer. From the outside, it seems he’s protecting his relationship with the team in an effort to not lose the room, unlike the reaction the coaches received in Vancouver.
The word “accountability” hangs in the Penguins locker rooms, at the practice facility, at PPG Paints Arena, and on the road. And the team is badly in need of a real dose of it.
Note what happened in Boston this week. Coach Jim Montgomery ripped into captain Brad Marchand on the bench in full view of 19,000 Bruins fans and the TV audience.
Read More: Marchand Accepts Responsibility
Marchand took it with a stiff chin and scored the game-winner. In the locker room the next day, he put a licking on society by calling new generations too sensitive and saying that he liked the accountability.
“People are very sensitive these days,” said Marchand, prior to their next game. “It’s unfortunate how coaches are scrutinized over things like that. There’s a lack of accountability nowadays because people can’t handle the heat. If you make a mistake like that, you deserve to hear about it.”
Sullivan Small Changes
Sullivan changed three of his forward lines on Saturday. Then he changed them all again. And again. The move followed the Yahtzee Cup lines from last Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets, which lasted only one game.
It doesn’t seem to matter who comes and goes from season to season because the virus has taken hold of the Penguins. Like they were a decade ago before Sullivan’s arrival in December of 2015, the Penguins are shakier than a Jenga tower on a wobbly table. Their ever-so-ungraceful nosedives don’t require a bad moment.
In fact, those faceplants typically follow their best moments.
The Penguins staked a 2-0 lead in the second period and were genuinely and significantly outplaying Vancouver. There was no reason to think they were in trouble, which, of course, is when the Penguins are in the most trouble.
It all went south quickly on Saturday, just as it did Sunday in Winnipeg. Recent losses to Carolina and Edmonton started badly and only got worse.
Sullivan is pushing buttons with the roster to affect change. In the process, he’s trying to send a message that things can and will be changed, but he hasn’t sent the loud, shocking message yet.
He needs another “SHUT … UP!” moment like he yelled at Malkin in 2016. Back then, Sullivan was trying to gain control of the team. Now, he’s trying to keep control by not delivering the message.
The irony is that if he doesn’t deliver another loud message out of fear that he’ll lose the team, that’s exactly what might happen.
Categorized:Penguins Penguins Analysis
Time for Sullivan to GO!
Totally agree. He should have been gone a few years ago. What’s the delay? Other teams do it when things aren’t going well He lost the room years ago.You can’t keep blaming the players. The Pens haven’t done much since they won the cup in 2017. Is that the players fault?
From here, it certainly can be the players fault. I think Dan wrote up several examples in this here article. Sometimes, though, since you can’t get rid of all the players, you have to get rid of the coach. Bring in an interim the rest of the year and compete with CBJ.
Yes it is their the ones playing not Sulli. He does have to go though.
As great a coach as Sully is, his shelf life here expired a long time ago. His message got stale around 2020 in that Toronto bubble, yet here we are. I’ll always be grateful for what he accomplished here, but it’s time to move on.
Too early.
I’m shocked they allowed this to be posted. This organization is going to fall really hard. Allowed Sullivan a joke and disgrace to be a Coach. Can’t judge talent and let’s players run team, to keep his job. Real hockey people know this organization will take years to be a 500 Hockey Team. Old, small, soft team. Worst defensive unit in NHL.
Yes, we keep changing Players, General Mangers, Assistant Coaches, but the VIRUS is still here.
I wonder WHO could we change to eradicate the VIRUS ..
Geno?
Lmao ya let’s blame Geno because Karlsson Crosby letang especially Karlsson are out to lunch. Nicest way I could say it. Maybe watch the games if you want to make an informed opinion. Obviously your opinion suggests you haven’t watched
Quite possibly the dumbest comment ever typed. You have a clue who’s leading this team in scoring?
Geno isn’t the whole problem. Obviously the Karllson acquisition is proving to be a major mistake. But, this all started before either of these issues and starts with the type of team Sullivan wants/wanted.
The irony is that he lost the team years ago.
Exactly. Well spoken and true.
Karlsson? Letang? Rust?
And Malkin!
Great piece Dan. I am in agreement with you. I am not on the fire sully bandwagon. The construction of this team has been poor over the last 5-6 years. And we went into this year with another poorly constructed team. This team is built to be bottom third at best. What sucks is it seems Crosbys drop off year is happening before our eyes. I’ve seen him mentally and physically be beat more than ever. A step behind more often then ever. His ppg streak is coming to an end. And sadly he’s not the best guy on the… Read more »
Correct. The talent level has been declining since the last Cup.
I thought I would give The Pens 10 games to see where they are and give Kyle Dubas and Erik Karlsson a reset. Unfortunately, EK is worse and Kyle Dubas has , so far not made one move that has helped The Penguins. Mark gets it exactly right!! Kyle Dubas is a disaster and his legacy with the Leafs is “Dubious” at best. A lot of the people on this site thought the Erik Karlsson trade was “a great piece of business”. We gave up Granlund a first and second round pick and Jeff Petry for EK. His defense is… Read more »
Dan, I’m afraid Sullivan has lost this team already. It’sike a parent who’s more worried about being their child’s friend than authority figure and we all know how that ends up. There is no trust or accountability on this team and it all starts with Sullivan. If he is unwilling and/or unable to send the big message then Dubas needs to send the BIGGEST message and clean house with the coaching staff. However, Sullivan is FSG’s “Beantown Bellicheck” so I highly doubt that’s going to happen. Realistically, I think the most we can hope for is Sullivan to do a… Read more »
65 is a disaster! Does Dubas have the guts to put him on wavers and what would be the salary cap issues. This is the message the team needs!!!
They aren’t putting him on waivers.
Dan, is it realistic that if Ek agrees anyone would trade for him? We all know he wants out but who will let him in? I would get rid of grz too and let shea and pickering play. At least the effort would be there
This team is talented, yet it is quickly heading down the road to irrelevance! It is time for Mike Sullivan to issue “healthy scratches” to those responsible for on ice blunders and poor decision making!
Karlsson should be the first!
It’s not all that talented. It’s still one of the oldest and slowest teams in the league.
The PP is a disaster. I’m not on the fire Sully train either, but the roster construction is a disaster. Not sure there are any answers really. Defense is nonexistent.
Closing time was 2 years ago and Sully is still hanging around. Penguins need a better bouncer. And he can take David Quinn with him
Closing time was in 2020. They are the drunk passed out on the sidewalk at 4 a.m.
Good piece Dan. I thought your insights on the Vancouver days were particularly helpful, especially in trying to crack the Sullivan nut. No coach or system could immediately fix the Pens current issues. That’s on the players. But, I do believe that Sullivan over time, especially the last two seasons, and this one, has failed to bring the right measure of accountability to those who needed it.
Agree with you 100 percent this is on the players who want to do it their way no matter what the Coach says. It’s long past time to worry about the feelings of veterans and future Hall of Famers.
They need to tank it dump Dubas Sulli anyone else they can and start over
💯 Dan. Karlsson should be benched. That would send a message and be appropriate. His lack of effort last game was apparent and that can’t happen from one of the five best and highest paid player. It’s a sign of disrespect and that cannot just be accepted. Get him some press box nachos.
It looks like Sully is coaching like he wants out and the players are playing like they want him out, so Dubas needs to pull the trigger and fire him. This garbage has gone on long enough. That said, I don’t see it getting much better even with a new coach, barring any major changes in their system.
You’re right Dan, if Sully don’t start making the stars accountable it’s going to cost him his job. When the team play’s the way he want’s them to play, there a good team and when they don’t he’s a bad coach, and I tip my hat to Brad Marchand, he’s right!
Doesn’t matter how many times you try to justify Sully’s clear collapse as an NHL coach by blaming the players years after year, after year, it doesn’t make it true. A coaches job is to create a winning team from the pieces they have. He has been given dozens of different pieces to use over the last 7 years since he was last successful. He has not produced wins. That is ultimately on him. We’ve changed the ENTIRE roster other than the core in his time with the Pens. It has not worked. It’s time to change the only piece… Read more »
You think writing that if Sullivan doens’t start sending loud messages he’ll be fired is in fact justifying him? I think you need to read that again.
I remember the coach for Craps putting Ovenchikin on the 3rd line for awhile.
Sully can’t yell to much because we all seen what happened to Babcock. Just send Karlson to the AHL for 14 days, put Sid and Geno both together for on the first and Letang on the third. On the powerplay Id put the second line first. I know I know…but wtf
Sullys been a lame duck for at least 3 seasons now. They look like a team trying to get their coach fired. The Core did the same to Therrien and Bylsma. At this point, the entire staff needs to go, if that doesn’t fix things it’s time to ask 71, 58 and 65 to waive their absurd no movement clauses.
No movement clauses and retirement plans should be a part of discussions now.
I focused on Crosby throughout that game, rather than following puck. I have seldom seen him so checked out. He is shockingly just cruising around most of the time, then skating off when inevitable turnover happens. He was like this after gentzel trade last year. Before that, only remember him like that when he seemed to be quitting on a head coach (Bylsma, Johnson). I like sully, but suddenly it seems he is about to be relieved. They already have Quinn there, and pp has been better. But, I’m not sure that solves anything…problem is that karlsson deal is proving… Read more »
I mentioned a week or so ago that this team was standing at the edge of falling off a cliff. I think we just witnessed that fall. You can see the free fall right now! But maybe that’s not all bad. This might be the wakeup call for management to perform a reshaping of the team in a more pronounced way. Time to stop worrying about hurt feelings and move forward. Bring up the WB kids and let them grow and learn from Sid. Start waiving, trading, or send guys down. Ifyou don’t want to play the way the coaches… Read more »
Here’s an idea. Sully should go around locker rooms, etc, and take down every single one of those accountability signs, because there is none right now. And it’s on the star players. 3rd and 4th line have been fine
Question for Dan: Ned said something really interesting last night in his post game interview…he was clearly hesitating and wanting to say something but feeling like he maybe shouldn’t—alluded to certain players maybe having personal issues affecting them on ice?! I’m hoping some reporter can dig into that a bit…
Yeah–we media looked at each other, too. I wasn’t going to ask him to clarify that in front of the cameras.
LMAO. Keep Sully, keep losing!
Lack of talent and speed keeps them losing.
Why is that time “now”? This has been going on since the beginning of last season. Karlsson has been more of a detriment to the team than an asset. Letang is now too slow to make up for his defensive mishaps and the chances he takes offensively. And Malkin was a ghost for the entire middle of last season.
There was no accountability then, so why should we expect it to start now?
Karlsson seems done at 34 years of age. Malkin has been the best player this season, but the pessimist in me predicts that as the season wears on — Geno will wear down. Crosby has been a bit of a no-show so far this season — but that will likely change. IMO, the Crosby/Malkin era effectively ended when Dubus traded Jake Guentzel. This isn’t going to be fixed. It is a simple matter of talent that is not there.
Ten years is an eternity for an NHL coach. His message is stale and it appears he has lost the team. Nothing will change as long as Sullivan is there. We kept the band together and how has that worked out? The coach should be the first move and then Karrlson. He has done nothing but hurt this team since he got here. No matter how little it is he must go. Same case holds true with Jarry. It will lead to addition by subtraction. Patterson was a good player but now he is one of the boys. I’m blaming… Read more »
Put me in with the fire Sullivan bandwagon. Sullivan has had the opportunity for a year to deliver a message. I don’t believe that Dubas made his personnel decisions in a vacuum. That the performance of the team over the last five years has been substandard has to fall at least in part on Sully’s shoulders. If FSG is serious about moving this team forward the loudest message to the players will be to fire Sullivan.
Dubas’ decisions were to stockpile picks as much as possible. That most often requires getting worse. That’s where they are right now.