Penguins and Head Coach Mike Sullivan Agree to Part Ways

[pekkasteele]

I would not be against a promising, but unexperienced coach now (at NHL level), Like Carle or Hallam, give them next season to adjust no matter the result, since it would be quite good to get a good draft position next draft to. Let him come in, learn this year, adjust and then for 2026/27 go for it!

[Sigwolf]

Looks like Mike Sullivan is running for judge.
https://www.mikesullivanforjudge.com/about

Pittsburgh's loss of two Mike Sullivans in a single day created a void that must be filled...

[Gunnerfan]

I think it's gonna be Tocchet to Philly, Sullivan to New York. Official prediction.

A name I'd keep an eye on for Pittsburgh: Bruce Boudreau.

I like the names Taylor threw out:

-Sam Hallam, David Carle, Mitch Love and Todd Nelson. Would not want to see Quinn (who was also mentioned).
-If Dubas is serious about not wanting a retread, than that would tend to eliminate Boudreau.

Boudreau might be a good bridge coach. Doubt Carle does this, but what if Dubas hires Boudreau as HC for 2 years then Carle is coach after that?

Or Carle as HC and Boudreau as assistant.

I think Boudreau is done as an NHL coach. He's just too old at this point.

I think he'd be like Jacques Martin, comes in to help an inexperienced coach for a couple of years. If he's a HC, it's just to end Crosby's career.

Does anyone want John Tortorella? He might be going back to NYR, not as a HC, but it'd at least be hilarious.

Has Mike Babcock learned his lesson regarding cell phone privacy?

Man I don’t think Babcock ever coaches in the NHL again. More than a few players have outed him as a creepy POS. He can stay retired.

[IntangibleBeer]

Apologies if this was covered somewhere in this thread, but does anyone know what Sullivan’s supposedly “non-negotiable demands” were?

[KG]

Apologies if this was covered somewhere in this thread, but does anyone know what Sullivan’s supposedly “non-negotiable demands” were?

KD flatly denied there were any demands ever by Sully. I'm also sure he also would never tell us if Sully did make any demands. I'm sure Sully wants to win now and KD wants to continue to be better in the near future.

[IntangibleBeer]

Thanks KG.

If Sullivan wanted out, making nonnegotiable demands would be a face saving way to do it. Much better than having his outdated and inflexible system fail with younger and faster players two years down the road. And he stands to collect a big payday with his stock at its highest.

[Puck-Lurker]

Apologies if this was covered somewhere in this thread, but does anyone know what Sullivan’s supposedly “non-negotiable demands” were?

KD flatly denied there were any demands ever by Sully. I'm also sure he also would never tell us if Sully did make any demands. I'm sure Sully wants to win now and KD wants to continue to be better in the near future.

Dubas would tell if Sullivan made no demands. Had there been any, GMKD wouldn't tell the press, but he wouldn't say there hadn't been any.

He'd have found a graceful way to back out of that. For instance: "I won't speak for Mike, the specifics of our conversation aren't for me to divulge" redirecting them to Sully. He would probably not want to mention any demands he made, reasonable or otherwise, so that ends that.

Whatever else you think about Dubas, he's got a deft touch with this kind of thing.

[Gunnerfan]

I believe GMKD that there were no non-negotiable demands. The people who reported it have no insight into the team or hockey-related information. Typical 93.7 BS. (as reported by TH at DKS). It logically sounds like GMKD laid out the plan for this year, and it probably didn't include ramping up the time frame.

I think it's as simple as two people who respect each other just couldn't agree on what the immediate future would look like. And that's okay.

[EndO FanEra]

If anything, I wouldn't be surprised if Sullivan wanted some sort of assurances that he wouldn't be let go mid-season. He had to know that his days are numbered, whether it be this upcoming season or the next.

I could understand Sully not wanting to fully invest in this offseason and rebuild process, only to be let go as soon as things aren't going well (and they probably wouldn't if he were still the voice in the room).

Maybe it leaked that Sully asked for some assurances and Dubas just wasn't willing to commit to it.

I could see that interpreted as a reporter saying that Sully had demands. And I could see Dubas viewing it more as an open conversation and not Sully demanding anything.

Or, maybe Dubas just finally had enough, like the rest of us.

[penscup]

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.

Sully went 41-19-15-7 for 104 pts. and 1st place in division his first season in Boston before losing in first round of playoffs and then getting fired after his GM traded away his MVP center for a bunch of mediocre talent the following season.

Would hardly call that a total failure. Pretty much exactly what Tocchet did in Vancouver the past 2 years except Tocchet left by choice.

[rgj]

Not happy with this at all. Sully was dealt a losing hand by DubASS. Yeah, he had the aging trio of Crosby, Letang, and Malkin. But DubASS FAILED in the supporting team. Pens have no playoff appearances for 3 years. DubASS is the reason. Sully had no power in the hand he was dealt. Good luck in your future Sully. DubASS this is ALL on you. Time for you to be unemployed.

[FLPensFan]

Not happy with this at all. Sully was dealt a losing hand by DubASS. Yeah, he had the aging trio of Crosby, Letang, and Malkin. But DubASS FAILED in the supporting team. Pens have no playoff appearances for 3 years. DubASS is the reason. Sully had no power in the hand he was dealt. Good luck in your future Sully. DubASS this is ALL on you. Time for you to be unemployed.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but, not sure how you blame Dubas for this. First, Kyle Dubas has been on the job for 2 seasons....so, how would he be responsible for 3 years of missed playoffs?

Biggest mistake Dubas likely made is still trying to do the impossible Hextall task of not giving up assets but still trying to compete. He listened to the noise from FSG, Sullivan, and others, instead of focusing on the job he needed to do, which he did start doing last summer.

Nobody has an endless string of assets. You can't applaud the work and success of Sullivan under Rutherford as GMJR gutted our picks and left our prospect pool barren, then turn around and dump all the failure on the incoming GM for the sins of his predecessors. FGMJR built up no prospect pool and Hextall made numerous gaffes with the NHL roster that Dubas was left to clean up.

Dubas gets high marks from me for doing something that was likely a year or two too late.

[Puck-Lurker]

Not happy with this at all. Sully was dealt a losing hand by DubASS. Yeah, he had the aging trio of Crosby, Letang, and Malkin. But DubASS FAILED in the supporting team. Pens have no playoff appearances for 3 years. DubASS is the reason. Sully had no power in the hand he was dealt. Good luck in your future Sully. DubASS this is ALL on you. Time for you to be unemployed.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but, not sure how you blame Dubas for this. First, Kyle Dubas has been on the job for 2 seasons....so, how would he be responsible for 3 years of missed playoffs?

Biggest mistake Dubas likely made is still trying to do the impossible Hextall task of not giving up assets but still trying to compete. He listened to the noise from FSG, Sullivan, and others, instead of focusing on the job he needed to do, which he did start doing last summer.

Nobody has an endless string of assets. You can't applaud the work and success of Sullivan under Rutherford as GMJR gutted our picks and left our prospect pool barren, then turn around and dump all the failure on the incoming GM for the sins of his predecessors. FGMJR built up no prospect pool and Hextall made numerous gaffes with the NHL roster that Dubas was left to clean up.

Dubas gets high marks from me for doing something that was likely a year or two too late.

I'm inclined to agree. Rutherford went all in on winning. That was correct and we did win.

Hextall was in we can still win mode, made poor decisions and we did not win.

Dubas was in the first year in a last chance mode and swung for the fences. Didn't pan out. Didn't have any assets to speak of left and started a soft, and increasingly harder rebuild. It's been okay so far. We are not to win for now. If that's your metric he sucks, it isn't my metric.

[Pens4Life]

Not happy with this at all. Sully was dealt a losing hand by DubASS. Yeah, he had the aging trio of Crosby, Letang, and Malkin. But DubASS FAILED in the supporting team. Pens have no playoff appearances for 3 years. DubASS is the reason. Sully had no power in the hand he was dealt. Good luck in your future Sully. DubASS this is ALL on you. Time for you to be unemployed.

What a biased bs.. dig deeper and re-think and comeback a bit smarter and less offensive to KD because he didnt deserve that.

Sullivan meanwhile last 7 years - we changed multiple GMs, we changed 90% of roster, results still bad and got even worse and still everyone else fault but not coach? Ok,gotcha..

Dubas at least filled our pool with some talent again and huge bag of draft picks. It was time for some soft rebuild.

[DeHaven162]

Definitely feels like this is going to lean towards an AHL head coach, or NHL assistant that has "developmental" traits, and probably should be at this point.

I don't think Carle happens. He turned down Chicago and Bedard already, and I think a lot of that had to do with family reasons. New child, doesn't want to uproot the family just yet. And as mentioned, the Penguins job isn't highly thought of at this time supposedly.

The two names I keep coming back to are Todd Nelson and Mitch Love.

Nelson is a bit of head scratcher for me, only because he's been in the minors for so long. Seems to be highly successful at the AHL level. Three Calder Cups, but also always in the playoffs when not winning it all. Recently with the Hershey Bears, they've been a juggernaut, and part of a really successful Washington organization who has shown the ability to win, retool on the fly, and then win again. 55 years old, so not ancient, but also getting to the point where you need to make an attempt at that NHL job.

Love was known as a pest/fighter back in his playing days in junior and ECHL/AHL. Got into coaching and worked his way up the WHL (Dubas loves his CHL guys). Joined the Calgary farm system as AHL head coach, and won the AHL Coach of the Year in both seasons there. When Sutter left Calgary, Love was thought to be the shoo-in replacement, but Calgary went another way, and Love left the organization and is currently an NHL assistant with Washington. So he has legit success at the AHL level with Calgary, and now getting that NHL experience with that same Washington organization as mentioned above, working as one of Spencer Carbury's right hand men.

If I had to pick today on May 1 (knowing we have a couple months til this actually happens), sign me up for Mitch Love.

[pens_CT]

Definitely feels like this is going to lean towards an AHL head coach, or NHL assistant that has "developmental" traits, and probably should be at this point.

I don't think Carle happens. He turned down Chicago and Bedard already, and I think a lot of that had to do with family reasons. New child, doesn't want to uproot the family just yet. And as mentioned, the Penguins job isn't highly thought of at this time supposedly.

The two names I keep coming back to are Todd Nelson and Mitch Love.

Nelson is a bit of head scratcher for me, only because he's been in the minors for so long. Seems to be highly successful at the AHL level. Three Calder Cups, but also always in the playoffs when not winning it all. Recently with the Hershey Bears, they've been a juggernaut, and part of a really successful Washington organization who has shown the ability to win, retool on the fly, and then win again. 55 years old, so not ancient, but also getting to the point where you need to make an attempt at that NHL job.

Love was known as a pest/fighter back in his playing days in junior and ECHL/AHL. Got into coaching and worked his way up the WHL (Dubas loves his CHL guys). Joined the Calgary farm system as AHL head coach, and won the AHL Coach of the Year in both seasons there. When Sutter left Calgary, Love was thought to be the shoo-in replacement, but Calgary went another way, and Love left the organization and is currently an NHL assistant with Washington. So he has legit success at the AHL level with Calgary, and now getting that NHL experience with that same Washington organization as mentioned above, working as one of Spencer Carbury's right hand men.

If I had to pick today on May 1 (knowing we have a couple months til this actually happens), sign me up for Mitch Love.

I agree with you on Carle. If this were ten years ago then coaching Crosby & Malkin would be much more appealing. Nelson makes you wonder why he hasn't got another shot after that brief opportunity with the Oilers. Love probably makes sense, I don't know his contract situation. Does his contract expire after the season, if not the Caps would have to give approval for him to interview. Maybe the Caps owner Fat Teddy doesn't want that? The Swedish hockey Sam Hallam also makes some sense. They should stay away from the Junior Ranks, I don't think we want another Mike Johnston here again. Dealing with 17-19 year olds is much different than the millionaires in the NHL.

[DeHaven162]

Definitely feels like this is going to lean towards an AHL head coach, or NHL assistant that has "developmental" traits, and probably should be at this point.

I don't think Carle happens. He turned down Chicago and Bedard already, and I think a lot of that had to do with family reasons. New child, doesn't want to uproot the family just yet. And as mentioned, the Penguins job isn't highly thought of at this time supposedly.

The two names I keep coming back to are Todd Nelson and Mitch Love.

Nelson is a bit of head scratcher for me, only because he's been in the minors for so long. Seems to be highly successful at the AHL level. Three Calder Cups, but also always in the playoffs when not winning it all. Recently with the Hershey Bears, they've been a juggernaut, and part of a really successful Washington organization who has shown the ability to win, retool on the fly, and then win again. 55 years old, so not ancient, but also getting to the point where you need to make an attempt at that NHL job.

Love was known as a pest/fighter back in his playing days in junior and ECHL/AHL. Got into coaching and worked his way up the WHL (Dubas loves his CHL guys). Joined the Calgary farm system as AHL head coach, and won the AHL Coach of the Year in both seasons there. When Sutter left Calgary, Love was thought to be the shoo-in replacement, but Calgary went another way, and Love left the organization and is currently an NHL assistant with Washington. So he has legit success at the AHL level with Calgary, and now getting that NHL experience with that same Washington organization as mentioned above, working as one of Spencer Carbury's right hand men.

If I had to pick today on May 1 (knowing we have a couple months til this actually happens), sign me up for Mitch Love.

I agree with you on Carle. If this were ten years ago then coaching Crosby & Malkin would be much more appealing. Nelson makes you wonder why he hasn't got another shot after that brief opportunity with the Oilers. Love probably makes sense, I don't know his contract situation. Does his contract expire after the season, if not the Caps would have to give approval for him to interview. Maybe the Caps owner Fat Teddy doesn't want that? The Swedish hockey Sam Hallam also makes some sense. They should stay away from the Junior Ranks, I don't think we want another Mike Johnston here again. Dealing with 17-19 year olds is much different than the millionaires in the NHL.

That was another reason Nelson had me a little curious.

I assumed Love's contract wouldn't matter since he's an assistant. I thought teams couldn't stop someone from leaving as long as the move was upward (assistant coach or GM to head coach or GM)? But I could be wrong.

And agreed, don't really want a junior coach at this point. Also, I've seen Hallam's name thrown around, but I just don't know anything about him besides being their recent national coach.

[Daniel]

Definitely feels like this is going to lean towards an AHL head coach, or NHL assistant that has "developmental" traits, and probably should be at this point.

I don't think Carle happens. He turned down Chicago and Bedard already, and I think a lot of that had to do with family reasons. New child, doesn't want to uproot the family just yet. And as mentioned, the Penguins job isn't highly thought of at this time supposedly.

The two names I keep coming back to are Todd Nelson and Mitch Love.

Nelson is a bit of head scratcher for me, only because he's been in the minors for so long. Seems to be highly successful at the AHL level. Three Calder Cups, but also always in the playoffs when not winning it all. Recently with the Hershey Bears, they've been a juggernaut, and part of a really successful Washington organization who has shown the ability to win, retool on the fly, and then win again. 55 years old, so not ancient, but also getting to the point where you need to make an attempt at that NHL job.

Love was known as a pest/fighter back in his playing days in junior and ECHL/AHL. Got into coaching and worked his way up the WHL (Dubas loves his CHL guys). Joined the Calgary farm system as AHL head coach, and won the AHL Coach of the Year in both seasons there. When Sutter left Calgary, Love was thought to be the shoo-in replacement, but Calgary went another way, and Love left the organization and is currently an NHL assistant with Washington. So he has legit success at the AHL level with Calgary, and now getting that NHL experience with that same Washington organization as mentioned above, working as one of Spencer Carbury's right hand men.

If I had to pick today on May 1 (knowing we have a couple months til this actually happens), sign me up for Mitch Love.

I agree with you on Carle. If this were ten years ago then coaching Crosby & Malkin would be much more appealing. Nelson makes you wonder why he hasn't got another shot after that brief opportunity with the Oilers. Love probably makes sense, I don't know his contract situation. Does his contract expire after the season, if not the Caps would have to give approval for him to interview. Maybe the Caps owner Fat Teddy doesn't want that? The Swedish hockey Sam Hallam also makes some sense. They should stay away from the Junior Ranks, I don't think we want another Mike Johnston here again. Dealing with 17-19 year olds is much different than the millionaires in the NHL.

That was another reason Nelson had me a little curious.

I assumed Love's contract wouldn't matter since he's an assistant. I thought teams couldn't stop someone from leaving as long as the move was upward (assistant coach or GM to head coach or GM)? But I could be wrong.

And agreed, don't really want a junior coach at this point. Also, I've seen Hallam's name thrown around, but I just don't know anything about him besides being their recent national coach.

Thoughts on Marco Sturm? Haven't seen his coaching record in Germany, but remember he was a pretty smart hockey player.

[DeHaven162]

Definitely feels like this is going to lean towards an AHL head coach, or NHL assistant that has "developmental" traits, and probably should be at this point.

I don't think Carle happens. He turned down Chicago and Bedard already, and I think a lot of that had to do with family reasons. New child, doesn't want to uproot the family just yet. And as mentioned, the Penguins job isn't highly thought of at this time supposedly.

The two names I keep coming back to are Todd Nelson and Mitch Love.

Nelson is a bit of head scratcher for me, only because he's been in the minors for so long. Seems to be highly successful at the AHL level. Three Calder Cups, but also always in the playoffs when not winning it all. Recently with the Hershey Bears, they've been a juggernaut, and part of a really successful Washington organization who has shown the ability to win, retool on the fly, and then win again. 55 years old, so not ancient, but also getting to the point where you need to make an attempt at that NHL job.

Love was known as a pest/fighter back in his playing days in junior and ECHL/AHL. Got into coaching and worked his way up the WHL (Dubas loves his CHL guys). Joined the Calgary farm system as AHL head coach, and won the AHL Coach of the Year in both seasons there. When Sutter left Calgary, Love was thought to be the shoo-in replacement, but Calgary went another way, and Love left the organization and is currently an NHL assistant with Washington. So he has legit success at the AHL level with Calgary, and now getting that NHL experience with that same Washington organization as mentioned above, working as one of Spencer Carbury's right hand men.

If I had to pick today on May 1 (knowing we have a couple months til this actually happens), sign me up for Mitch Love.

I agree with you on Carle. If this were ten years ago then coaching Crosby & Malkin would be much more appealing. Nelson makes you wonder why he hasn't got another shot after that brief opportunity with the Oilers. Love probably makes sense, I don't know his contract situation. Does his contract expire after the season, if not the Caps would have to give approval for him to interview. Maybe the Caps owner Fat Teddy doesn't want that? The Swedish hockey Sam Hallam also makes some sense. They should stay away from the Junior Ranks, I don't think we want another Mike Johnston here again. Dealing with 17-19 year olds is much different than the millionaires in the NHL.

That was another reason Nelson had me a little curious.

I assumed Love's contract wouldn't matter since he's an assistant. I thought teams couldn't stop someone from leaving as long as the move was upward (assistant coach or GM to head coach or GM)? But I could be wrong.

And agreed, don't really want a junior coach at this point. Also, I've seen Hallam's name thrown around, but I just don't know anything about him besides being their recent national coach.

Thoughts on Marco Sturm? Haven't seen his coaching record in Germany, but remember he was a pretty smart hockey player.

I forgot about Sturm, honestly didn't even realize he was still with the Kings. Looks like he's having some success at the AHL level, and the Kings are known for their prospect development.

[FLPensFan]

Definitely feels like this is going to lean towards an AHL head coach, or NHL assistant that has "developmental" traits, and probably should be at this point.

I don't think Carle happens. He turned down Chicago and Bedard already, and I think a lot of that had to do with family reasons. New child, doesn't want to uproot the family just yet. And as mentioned, the Penguins job isn't highly thought of at this time supposedly.

The two names I keep coming back to are Todd Nelson and Mitch Love.

Nelson is a bit of head scratcher for me, only because he's been in the minors for so long. Seems to be highly successful at the AHL level. Three Calder Cups, but also always in the playoffs when not winning it all. Recently with the Hershey Bears, they've been a juggernaut, and part of a really successful Washington organization who has shown the ability to win, retool on the fly, and then win again. 55 years old, so not ancient, but also getting to the point where you need to make an attempt at that NHL job.

Love was known as a pest/fighter back in his playing days in junior and ECHL/AHL. Got into coaching and worked his way up the WHL (Dubas loves his CHL guys). Joined the Calgary farm system as AHL head coach, and won the AHL Coach of the Year in both seasons there. When Sutter left Calgary, Love was thought to be the shoo-in replacement, but Calgary went another way, and Love left the organization and is currently an NHL assistant with Washington. So he has legit success at the AHL level with Calgary, and now getting that NHL experience with that same Washington organization as mentioned above, working as one of Spencer Carbury's right hand men.

If I had to pick today on May 1 (knowing we have a couple months til this actually happens), sign me up for Mitch Love.

I agree with you on Carle. If this were ten years ago then coaching Crosby & Malkin would be much more appealing. Nelson makes you wonder why he hasn't got another shot after that brief opportunity with the Oilers. Love probably makes sense, I don't know his contract situation. Does his contract expire after the season, if not the Caps would have to give approval for him to interview. Maybe the Caps owner Fat Teddy doesn't want that? The Swedish hockey Sam Hallam also makes some sense. They should stay away from the Junior Ranks, I don't think we want another Mike Johnston here again. Dealing with 17-19 year olds is much different than the millionaires in the NHL.

That was another reason Nelson had me a little curious.

I assumed Love's contract wouldn't matter since he's an assistant. I thought teams couldn't stop someone from leaving as long as the move was upward (assistant coach or GM to head coach or GM)? But I could be wrong.

And agreed, don't really want a junior coach at this point. Also, I've seen Hallam's name thrown around, but I just don't know anything about him besides being their recent national coach.

Thoughts on Marco Sturm? Haven't seen his coaching record in Germany, but remember he was a pretty smart hockey player.

Haven't heard his name in the conversation. Would have to do some more research.

Another name I heard for the first time that was very intriguing to me was Kori Cheverie. She was a guest coach for a game with the Penguins last season. She's been a player, assistant coach, and a head coach in the PWHL, college, and national team level. Here's the thing that stood out to me from the video I watched about her....she doesn't have a specific, set system, formation, or strategy. She is known for adjusting the teams game play based on the opponent and the flow of the game. She'll look for weaknesses in an opponent and adjust her gameplan to attack those weaknesses. She'll also adjust her style based on the score or situations within the game. She also likes to focus on individual skills and develop them and use when adapting her system.

That sounds like an awesome quality to have in a coach, but as the video reviewer also made mention, it takes a VERY strong level of communication to make it work, because you are always changing what you are doing and if a player doesn't understand or the communication isn't effective, the adaptability isn't going to work.

[dark_forces]

Definitely feels like this is going to lean towards an AHL head coach, or NHL assistant that has "developmental" traits, and probably should be at this point.

I don't think Carle happens. He turned down Chicago and Bedard already, and I think a lot of that had to do with family reasons. New child, doesn't want to uproot the family just yet. And as mentioned, the Penguins job isn't highly thought of at this time supposedly.

The two names I keep coming back to are Todd Nelson and Mitch Love.

Nelson is a bit of head scratcher for me, only because he's been in the minors for so long. Seems to be highly successful at the AHL level. Three Calder Cups, but also always in the playoffs when not winning it all. Recently with the Hershey Bears, they've been a juggernaut, and part of a really successful Washington organization who has shown the ability to win, retool on the fly, and then win again. 55 years old, so not ancient, but also getting to the point where you need to make an attempt at that NHL job.

Love was known as a pest/fighter back in his playing days in junior and ECHL/AHL. Got into coaching and worked his way up the WHL (Dubas loves his CHL guys). Joined the Calgary farm system as AHL head coach, and won the AHL Coach of the Year in both seasons there. When Sutter left Calgary, Love was thought to be the shoo-in replacement, but Calgary went another way, and Love left the organization and is currently an NHL assistant with Washington. So he has legit success at the AHL level with Calgary, and now getting that NHL experience with that same Washington organization as mentioned above, working as one of Spencer Carbury's right hand men.

If I had to pick today on May 1 (knowing we have a couple months til this actually happens), sign me up for Mitch Love.

I agree with you on Carle. If this were ten years ago then coaching Crosby & Malkin would be much more appealing. Nelson makes you wonder why he hasn't got another shot after that brief opportunity with the Oilers. Love probably makes sense, I don't know his contract situation. Does his contract expire after the season, if not the Caps would have to give approval for him to interview. Maybe the Caps owner Fat Teddy doesn't want that? The Swedish hockey Sam Hallam also makes some sense. They should stay away from the Junior Ranks, I don't think we want another Mike Johnston here again. Dealing with 17-19 year olds is much different than the millionaires in the NHL.

That was another reason Nelson had me a little curious.

I assumed Love's contract wouldn't matter since he's an assistant. I thought teams couldn't stop someone from leaving as long as the move was upward (assistant coach or GM to head coach or GM)? But I could be wrong.

And agreed, don't really want a junior coach at this point. Also, I've seen Hallam's name thrown around, but I just don't know anything about him besides being their recent national coach.

Thoughts on Marco Sturm? Haven't seen his coaching record in Germany, but remember he was a pretty smart hockey player.

Haven't heard his name in the conversation. Would have to do some more research.

Another name I heard for the first time that was very intriguing to me was Kori Cheverie. She was a guest coach for a game with the Penguins last season. She's been a player, assistant coach, and a head coach in the PWHL, college, and national team level. Here's the thing that stood out to me from the video I watched about her....she doesn't have a specific, set system, formation, or strategy. She is known for adjusting the teams game play based on the opponent and the flow of the game. She'll look for weaknesses in an opponent and adjust her gameplan to attack those weaknesses. She'll also adjust her style based on the score or situations within the game. She also likes to focus on individual skills and develop them and use when adapting her system.

That sounds like an awesome quality to have in a coach, but as the video reviewer also made mention, it takes a VERY strong level of communication to make it work, because you are always changing what you are doing and if a player doesn't understand or the communication isn't effective, the adaptability isn't going to work.

Another name I've heard in a couple of places, who should be granted an interview at least, is Jeff Blashill. He's supposedly very good with young players and now has experience working with Cooper, who many regard as a gold standard in NHL coaching. He has college, AHL, assistant NHL and head coaching NHL experience, plus he's got Sault St. Marie ties.

[pens_CT]

I agree with you on Carle. If this were ten years ago then coaching Crosby & Malkin would be much more appealing. Nelson makes you wonder why he hasn't got another shot after that brief opportunity with the Oilers. Love probably makes sense, I don't know his contract situation. Does his contract expire after the season, if not the Caps would have to give approval for him to interview. Maybe the Caps owner Fat Teddy doesn't want that? The Swedish hockey Sam Hallam also makes some sense. They should stay away from the Junior Ranks, I don't think we want another Mike Johnston here again. Dealing with 17-19 year olds is much different than the millionaires in the NHL.

That was another reason Nelson had me a little curious.

I assumed Love's contract wouldn't matter since he's an assistant. I thought teams couldn't stop someone from leaving as long as the move was upward (assistant coach or GM to head coach or GM)? But I could be wrong.

And agreed, don't really want a junior coach at this point. Also, I've seen Hallam's name thrown around, but I just don't know anything about him besides being their recent national coach.

Thoughts on Marco Sturm? Haven't seen his coaching record in Germany, but remember he was a pretty smart hockey player.

Haven't heard his name in the conversation. Would have to do some more research.

Another name I heard for the first time that was very intriguing to me was Kori Cheverie. She was a guest coach for a game with the Penguins last season. She's been a player, assistant coach, and a head coach in the PWHL, college, and national team level. Here's the thing that stood out to me from the video I watched about her....she doesn't have a specific, set system, formation, or strategy. She is known for adjusting the teams game play based on the opponent and the flow of the game. She'll look for weaknesses in an opponent and adjust her gameplan to attack those weaknesses. She'll also adjust her style based on the score or situations within the game. She also likes to focus on individual skills and develop them and use when adapting her system.

That sounds like an awesome quality to have in a coach, but as the video reviewer also made mention, it takes a VERY strong level of communication to make it work, because you are always changing what you are doing and if a player doesn't understand or the communication isn't effective, the adaptability isn't going to work.

Another name I've heard in a couple of places, who should be granted an interview at least, is Jeff Blashill. He's supposedly very good with young players and now has experience working with Cooper, who many regard as a gold standard in NHL coaching. He has college, AHL, assistant NHL and head coaching NHL experience, plus he's got Sault St. Marie ties.

Cooper might be viewed as the gold standard, but his teams have been eliminated three years in a row in the first round.

[FLPensFan]

That was another reason Nelson had me a little curious.

I assumed Love's contract wouldn't matter since he's an assistant. I thought teams couldn't stop someone from leaving as long as the move was upward (assistant coach or GM to head coach or GM)? But I could be wrong.

And agreed, don't really want a junior coach at this point. Also, I've seen Hallam's name thrown around, but I just don't know anything about him besides being their recent national coach.

Thoughts on Marco Sturm? Haven't seen his coaching record in Germany, but remember he was a pretty smart hockey player.

Haven't heard his name in the conversation. Would have to do some more research.

Another name I heard for the first time that was very intriguing to me was Kori Cheverie. She was a guest coach for a game with the Penguins last season. She's been a player, assistant coach, and a head coach in the PWHL, college, and national team level. Here's the thing that stood out to me from the video I watched about her....she doesn't have a specific, set system, formation, or strategy. She is known for adjusting the teams game play based on the opponent and the flow of the game. She'll look for weaknesses in an opponent and adjust her gameplan to attack those weaknesses. She'll also adjust her style based on the score or situations within the game. She also likes to focus on individual skills and develop them and use when adapting her system.

That sounds like an awesome quality to have in a coach, but as the video reviewer also made mention, it takes a VERY strong level of communication to make it work, because you are always changing what you are doing and if a player doesn't understand or the communication isn't effective, the adaptability isn't going to work.

Another name I've heard in a couple of places, who should be granted an interview at least, is Jeff Blashill. He's supposedly very good with young players and now has experience working with Cooper, who many regard as a gold standard in NHL coaching. He has college, AHL, assistant NHL and head coaching NHL experience, plus he's got Sault St. Marie ties.

Cooper might be viewed as the gold standard, but his teams have been eliminated three years in a row in the first round.

I think Cooper is suffering from a bit of what I said in another thread...his GM hasn't "helped" him in the long run. Brisebois has made some amazing trades the last several years for guys like Hagel, Bjorkstrand, Gourde, Moser, and Geekie. But, like the Penguins...the AHL assets are dry. They have no first round picks the next 3 years, they are running up against a Florida team 2 years in a row who is hotter and younger (sounds like a pickup line) than TB is, and finally other than Guentzel, nobody stepped up on that team. Kucherov with 4 assists, Point only 2 goals. Florida did a good job shutting them down.

For as long as Cooper has been in charge, TB has only missed the playoffs once (in his early years), 2 Cups, 2 more Cup finals. I don't think his system is stale per se, I think it is more of the big swings of Brisebois are catching up, Stamkos is gone and aged, Kucherov and Hedman are aging, and they don't have the young stars to keep the train going.

[penscup]

Another name I heard for the first time that was very intriguing to me was Kori Cheverie. She was a guest coach for a game with the Penguins last season. She's been a player, assistant coach, and a head coach in the PWHL, college, and national team level. Here's the thing that stood out to me from the video I watched about her....she doesn't have a specific, set system, formation, or strategy. She is known for adjusting the teams game play based on the opponent and the flow of the game. She'll look for weaknesses in an opponent and adjust her gameplan to attack those weaknesses. She'll also adjust her style based on the score or situations within the game. She also likes to focus on individual skills and develop them and use when adapting her system.

That sounds like an awesome quality to have in a coach, but as the video reviewer also made mention, it takes a VERY strong level of communication to make it work, because you are always changing what you are doing and if a player doesn't understand or the communication isn't effective, the adaptability isn't going to work.

Don’t you think she needs some AHL experience as a HC before even being considered for an NHL position good as her skills may be? That’s a huge jump to make. Have there even been any female HC’s of men’s minor league teams at this point?

[Maestro]

Not happy with this at all. Sully was dealt a losing hand by DubASS. Yeah, he had the aging trio of Crosby, Letang, and Malkin. But DubASS FAILED in the supporting team. Pens have no playoff appearances for 3 years. DubASS is the reason. Sully had no power in the hand he was dealt. Good luck in your future Sully. DubASS this is ALL on you. Time for you to be unemployed.

Are you really this immature and ignorant or just a keyboard comedian?