Penguins and Head Coach Mike Sullivan Agree to Part Ways

[BlackNGold4Life]

Kyle D gained alot of respect in my book - this wasn’t mutual - he pulled the plug and could see what we all have seen. The stubborn and stale “system of swagger” growing crustier by the minute.

I said this months and months ago. You can be a great singer but if the song you are singing is trash - nobody listens. And that’s Sullivan. He maybe a teacher of fundamentals and he got us two cups. But his system and refusal to adapt to his personal - his stubbornness with player deployment like the Nietos of the world. Starting Ryan Graves in the last game of the season over youth alone was fireabke offense ha.

It’s refreshing to see a GM that seems to have the same understanding most of us do / albeit for Dubas tenure maybe a season too late / he got there.

[Puck-Lurker]

Noon press conference with Dubas. First question should be: “You have repeatedly said if you don’t have a Mike Sullivan you’re looking for one. What happened?”

This is the precise question I would lead with! Why the change of direction?

Answer: we're now looking for Mike Sullivan

There are at least 1-2 coaches at the top of the league with him, remember.

[lemieuxReturns]

I will never understand the hate that Sully got from this board over the past few years. Our team is full of 3rd and 4th line bums who Sully had to try and fitu into a top 6 role. The GM's have given Sully an absolute **** sandwich to work with over the past few years. That said, we are moving into a new era that will certainly include more losing than winning in the short term. A coach that is eager to allow younger players to work through some growing pains will be key in helping figure out who is part of the future.

Thanks for all the great years of service Sully! Good luck to you and your next role.

[Cow_Master66]

I will never understand the hate that Sully got from this board over the past few years. Our team is full of 3rd and 4th line bums who Sully had to try and fitu into a top 6 role. The GM's have given Sully an absolute **** sandwich to work with over the past few years. That said, we are moving into a new era that will certainly include more losing than winning in the short term. A coach that is eager to allow younger players to work through some growing pains will be key in helping figure out who is part of the future.

Thanks for all the great years of service Sully! Good luck to you and your next role.

It's the yinzer approach.... blame the Coach, goalie, quarterback, etc. He did a fine job, and you don't win 2 cups then all of a sudden forget how to coach. This team is a bunch of elders, and somebody eventually has to take the fall, which in the NHL is almost always the coach.

[DelPen]

Kyle D gained alot of respect in my book - this wasn’t mutual - he pulled the plug and could see what we all have seen. The stubborn and stale “system of swagger” growing crustier by the minute.

I said this months and months ago. You can be a great singer but if the song you are singing is trash - nobody listens. And that’s Sullivan. He maybe a teacher of fundamentals and he got us two cups. But his system and refusal to adapt to his personal - his stubbornness with player deployment like the Nietos of the world. Starting Ryan Graves in the last game of the season over youth alone was fireabke offense ha.

It’s refreshing to see a GM that seems to have the same understanding most of us do / albeit for Dubas tenure maybe a season too late / he got there.

Sullivan started out like Jefferson Airplane. Then after COVID lockdown he became Jefferson Starship. And these last three years he was just Starship.

[Puck-Lurker]

Kyle D gained alot of respect in my book - this wasn’t mutual - he pulled the plug and could see what we all have seen. The stubborn and stale “system of swagger” growing crustier by the minute.

I said this months and months ago. You can be a great singer but if the song you are singing is trash - nobody listens. And that’s Sullivan. He maybe a teacher of fundamentals and he got us two cups. But his system and refusal to adapt to his personal - his stubbornness with player deployment like the Nietos of the world. Starting Ryan Graves in the last game of the season over youth alone was fireabke offense ha.

It’s refreshing to see a GM that seems to have the same understanding most of us do / albeit for Dubas tenure maybe a season too late / he got there.

Sullivan started out like Jefferson Airplane. Then after COVID lockdown he became Jefferson Starship. And these last three years he was just Starship.

And we can build this team together..
Play old farts forever
Nothing's gonna stop us now
And if this world runs out of pluggers
We'll still have old buggers
Nothing's gonna stop us
Nothing's gonna stop us now

[Antonio]

It's the yinzer approach.... blame the Coach, goalie, quarterback, etc. He did a fine job, and you don't win 2 cups then all of a sudden forget how to coach. This team is a bunch of elders, and somebody eventually has to take the fall, which in the NHL is almost always the coach.

Huh. Sounds like the Sullivan excuses... it was the goalies, it was the refs, it was the injuries, it was Mercury retrograde. The guy had one basic system, couldn't adapt couldn't change, was **** at personnel management, and the apex of his greatness was achieved with a team stocked to the gills with generational and super star talent in its prime. We are seriously going to act like this team was so bad and so pathetic that it couldn't win ONE playoff series in 7 years? Ok.

Amazing the such an incredible coach who knew so much did a **** job in Boston. Let's not forget he was a HC before this and was a failure. Whatever. The guy is gone finally and about 7 years too late. Go build your **** unjustified legend somewhere else Mikey.

[Sams_Dog]

It's the yinzer approach.... blame the Coach, goalie, quarterback, etc. He did a fine job, and you don't win 2 cups then all of a sudden forget how to coach. This team is a bunch of elders, and somebody eventually has to take the fall, which in the NHL is almost always the coach.

Huh. Sounds like the Sullivan excuses... it was the goalies, it was the refs, it was the injuries, it was Mercury retrograde. The guy had one basic system, couldn't adapt couldn't change, was **** at personnel management, and the apex of his greatness was achieved with a team stocked to the gills with generational and super star talent in its prime. We are seriously going to act like this team was so bad and so pathetic that it couldn't win ONE playoff series in 7 years? Ok.

Amazing the such an incredible coach who knew so much did a **** job in Boston. Let's not forget he was a HC before this and was a failure. Whatever. The guy is gone finally and about 7 years too late. Go build your **** unjustified legend somewhere else Mikey.

Mr. Negative has apoken. Never a good thing to say about anything.

[Maestro]

Sure it's everyone's fault except the head coach. After 7 straight years of losing and utter disappointment I am looking forward to the disappearance of the Sullivan apologists. You all can switch your allegiance to the New York Rangers once they hire your apostle.

[DeHaven162]

It's the yinzer approach.... blame the Coach, goalie, quarterback, etc. He did a fine job, and you don't win 2 cups then all of a sudden forget how to coach. This team is a bunch of elders, and somebody eventually has to take the fall, which in the NHL is almost always the coach.

Huh. Sounds like the Sullivan excuses... it was the goalies, it was the refs, it was the injuries, it was Mercury retrograde. The guy had one basic system, couldn't adapt couldn't change, was **** at personnel management, and the apex of his greatness was achieved with a team stocked to the gills with generational and super star talent in its prime. We are seriously going to act like this team was so bad and so pathetic that it couldn't win ONE playoff series in 7 years? Ok.

Amazing the such an incredible coach who knew so much did a **** job in Boston. Let's not forget he was a HC before this and was a failure. Whatever. The guy is gone finally and about 7 years too late. Go build your **** unjustified legend somewhere else Mikey.

Huh? It sounds like Mike Sullivan ran over your dog or something. Unjustified legend? The guy won back to back cups. Yeah, it might have been time for a change, but the original post I agree with. The team just aged out. These teams the last few years have been terrible, and carried by one guy, 87. Quite honestly, I thought Sullivan did a great job even in these last few years. Our roster stinks.

Again, I agree it is time to move on, too comfortable from top to bottom, but this is just non-sense.

[lemieuxReturns]

Am I reading this right? The other Mike Sullivan who coaches in Pittsburgh (Steelers) is also gone?

[Pens4Life]

I was just laughing at one of last questions in press conference, how hard it will be for the new coach, to be under such pressure, replacing such successfull coach?!? Can it be even worse? Maybe, but hard..even with small retool of team, it will be hard to be worse.

I mean wth, 7 years people...7 freaking years! Success was loooong time ago..

Yeah, sometimes roster wasnt that good, but still.. it was time for change, 2-3 years too late, but it was time for new coach, new voice, new approach.

[BigMcK]

The last sentence I posted last night, was, "Fire Sullivan", and then I read that he is gone. Wait, it's still April, so could this be April fools month???

The chapter is over, time to turn the page. It is the perfect time to remove him before he could impact the draft and player decisions of the off-season.

No bad feelings for his future, and glad he coached the two cup wins. Sometimes before the lights are turned on and the music stops, you need to leave the party. He waited too long.

If he were shot into the sun, it didn't make a splash, because it's out shining bright.

[joeyg412]

It's the yinzer approach.... blame the Coach, goalie, quarterback, etc. He did a fine job, and you don't win 2 cups then all of a sudden forget how to coach. This team is a bunch of elders, and somebody eventually has to take the fall, which in the NHL is almost always the coach.

Huh. Sounds like the Sullivan excuses... it was the goalies, it was the refs, it was the injuries, it was Mercury retrograde. The guy had one basic system, couldn't adapt couldn't change, was **** at personnel management, and the apex of his greatness was achieved with a team stocked to the gills with generational and super star talent in its prime. We are seriously going to act like this team was so bad and so pathetic that it couldn't win ONE playoff series in 7 years? Ok.

Amazing the such an incredible coach who knew so much did a **** job in Boston. Let's not forget he was a HC before this and was a failure. Whatever. The guy is gone finally and about 7 years too late. Go build your **** unjustified legend somewhere else Mikey.

Did he implement his system on your wife or something? Jesus

[Cow_Master66]

I'm actually on board with the firing, I just don't think he's the main reason they haven't seen recent success. Whether it's Jarry pooping the bed, the laughable collection of defensemen (none of which are good at playing defense), or the key contributors all coming up on retirement age, the coach can't take the blame for everything.

Maybe he didn't properly adjust his system though, for the personnel. We need a guy who can build something around key offensive players in the mid-late 30s that are on the slow side and a defensive core that won't clear the middle and will turn the puck over in high-danger areas on a regular basis.

All kidding aside though, I do think it was time to move on, I just don't blame the coach for the past 7 seasons ~ at least not a high % of blame (sure he has some. I'd like to see a younger guy come in with some fresh ideas and approaches, but I'm curious if KD would have reservations against someone on the younger side, given the current roster makeup.

[BigMcK]

Kyle D gained alot of respect in my book - this wasn’t mutual - he pulled the plug and could see what we all have seen. The stubborn and stale “system of swagger” growing crustier by the minute.

I said this months and months ago. You can be a great singer but if the song you are singing is trash - nobody listens. And that’s Sullivan. He maybe a teacher of fundamentals and he got us two cups. But his system and refusal to adapt to his personal - his stubbornness with player deployment like the Nietos of the world. Starting Ryan Graves in the last game of the season over youth alone was fireabke offense ha.

It’s refreshing to see a GM that seems to have the same understanding most of us do / albeit for Dubas tenure maybe a season too late / he got there.

Sullivan started out like Jefferson Airplane. Then after COVID lockdown he became Jefferson Starship. And these last three years he was just Starship.

And we can build this team together..
Play old farts forever
Nothing's gonna stop us now
And if this world runs out of pluggers
We'll still have old buggers
Nothing's gonna stop us
Nothing's gonna stop us now

Good stuff, right there...

[Tico Rick]

People remember Jefferson Airplane/Starship? There are a lot of old timers on this board.

[Puck-Lurker]

People remember Jefferson Airplane/Starship? There are a lot of old timers on this board.

Go ask Alice, I think she'll know.

Some of it well before my time, before I was born. Do like me good old music though

[pens_CT]

Am I reading this right? The other Mike Sullivan who coaches in Pittsburgh (Steelers) is also gone?

Yes. Not a good day to be a coach named Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh.

[Puck-Lurker]

Dubas: "I don't want Mike Sullivan to coach anymore in Pittsburgh."
Staff: "Which one? The one with the Penguins or the one with the Steelers?"
Dubas: "Yes."

[Gunnerfan]

It's the yinzer approach.... blame the Coach, goalie, quarterback, etc. He did a fine job, and you don't win 2 cups then all of a sudden forget how to coach. This team is a bunch of elders, and somebody eventually has to take the fall, which in the NHL is almost always the coach.

Huh. Sounds like the Sullivan excuses... it was the goalies, it was the refs, it was the injuries, it was Mercury retrograde. The guy had one basic system, couldn't adapt couldn't change, was **** at personnel management, and the apex of his greatness was achieved with a team stocked to the gills with generational and super star talent in its prime. We are seriously going to act like this team was so bad and so pathetic that it couldn't win ONE playoff series in 7 years? Ok.

Amazing the such an incredible coach who knew so much did a **** job in Boston. Let's not forget he was a HC before this and was a failure. Whatever. The guy is gone finally and about 7 years too late. Go build your **** unjustified legend somewhere else Mikey.

This immature rant is everything that is wrong with sports today... Odd personal attacks on someone you don't know, but feel fully justified in creepy ridicule, just to make themselves feel better on a message board. Do better

[dark_forces]

I'm actually on board with the firing, I just don't think he's the main reason they haven't seen recent success. Whether it's Jarry pooping the bed, the laughable collection of defensemen (none of which are good at playing defense), or the key contributors all coming up on retirement age, the coach can't take the blame for everything.

Maybe he didn't properly adjust his system though, for the personnel. We need a guy who can build something around key offensive players in the mid-late 30s that are on the slow side and a defensive core that won't clear the middle and will turn the puck over in high-danger areas on a regular basis.

All kidding aside though, I do think it was time to move on, I just don't blame the coach for the past 7 seasons ~ at least not a high % of blame (sure he has some. I'd like to see a younger guy come in with some fresh ideas and approaches, but I'm curious if KD would have reservations against someone on the younger side, given the current roster makeup.

His place in Pittsburgh's sports lore is secure. He's a winner and very good coach. Aside from Badger Bob, who's achieved legendary status, he's the best coach to have led the Penguins.
It'll be a facinating offseason to see how all of this plays out. At least one thing is settled—Fenway Sports Group (as many believed) we're favoring and wanted Sullivan to be around for a long time and have a large degree of power. Dubas is definitely in charge now.

[Puck-Lurker]

Okay, need to rectify something I said before having seen the interview.

Sullivan is STILL under contract. He's only removed from his position as Head Coach, so currently inactive with the organisation.

Teams will have to ask for, but will very definitely get, permission from the Penguins to negotiate with Sullivan for a contract elsewhere.

Until such a time, Penguins are on the hook for the remainder of his contract.

[Antonio]

Disco Dan won a cup and a ton of games and had a similar winning percentage. Where are all the rabid apologists and defenders for him? I mean we should have just kept him that way he could have kept winning a decent amount of regular season games for a decade, racking up a legend about how great a coach he was with all these meaningless regular season wins and year after year after year of playoff failure. Then we could have talked about him like an epic coach.

[pens_CT]

I'm actually on board with the firing, I just don't think he's the main reason they haven't seen recent success. Whether it's Jarry pooping the bed, the laughable collection of defensemen (none of which are good at playing defense), or the key contributors all coming up on retirement age, the coach can't take the blame for everything.

Maybe he didn't properly adjust his system though, for the personnel. We need a guy who can build something around key offensive players in the mid-late 30s that are on the slow side and a defensive core that won't clear the middle and will turn the puck over in high-danger areas on a regular basis.

All kidding aside though, I do think it was time to move on, I just don't blame the coach for the past 7 seasons ~ at least not a high % of blame (sure he has some. I'd like to see a younger guy come in with some fresh ideas and approaches, but I'm curious if KD would have reservations against someone on the younger side, given the current roster makeup.

His place in Pittsburgh's sports lore is secure. He's a winner and very good coach. Aside from Badger Bob, who's achieved legendary status, he's the best coach to have led the Penguins.
It'll be a facinating offseason to see how all of this plays out. At least one thing is settled—Fenway Sports Group (as many believed) we're favoring and wanted Sullivan to be around for a long time and have a large degree of power. Dubas is definitely in charge now.

Scotty Bowman says remember me ???