I’m probably one of the more vocal “it might be time to move on from Sully” people on this board. And i would be absolutely mild compared to what people say elsewhere
mikey's Thread of Penguin Randomness
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Almost everyone on this board would be considered an extremist pro-Sullivan (or, just pro-Penguin) milkdrinker on HF. It's crazy how much they hate themselves and this team and Sullivan...and simultaneously love our young players, but only the ones that Sullivan doesn't play. Whoever they might be...
Meanwhile, JSI has played over 15 minutes in three of the last five...unrelated.
Meanwhile, JSI has played over 15 minutes in three of the last five...unrelated.
mikey's Thread of Penguin Randomness
Half the posts on HFBoards are premised with "when they fire Sullivan." Could happen but very unlikely given FSG/Dubas comments.
mikey's Thread of Penguin Randomness
He's one of the best coaches in the league. I believe that. It's also true, however, that every coach eventually has his day. During that awful stretch right after Jake was traded, I thought it might be time to seriously consider moving on if they would have kept playing that way until the end of the season. But they have battled back recently with some great efforts, and finally a little puck luck started to go their way. The power play is a glaring weakness, and one way or another that must be addressed this off-season. I think they can accomplish that to a degree without firing Sully.
One thing that I cannot stand is how a lot of talking heads in the media claim that Sully has not made any adjustments since he got here. That is simply a false statement. He has made adjustments this season. Their record doesn't reflect those adjustments only because the power play has shot itself in the foot more often than it has shot the puck into the net.
One thing that I cannot stand is how a lot of talking heads in the media claim that Sully has not made any adjustments since he got here. That is simply a false statement. He has made adjustments this season. Their record doesn't reflect those adjustments only because the power play has shot itself in the foot more often than it has shot the puck into the net.
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Yeah, we have played a number of different ways this year...if folks can't see that now, then they'll never see any adjustments ever...it's just a buzzword that people use to excuse their foolishness and peddle their cheesy narrative...
mikey's Thread of Penguin Randomness
My main issue with Sullivan is still the same...
- frequent lackluster starts
- failing to protect the lead in the 3rd
Pens have had major issues with both the past couple of years - and I know the roster hasn't been great either. The terrible special teams this year is also not a good look.
I see no reason to not let Sullivan start next year as the head coach, but I also don't want to give him too much rope if these issues continue (depending on roster or injuries of course).
- frequent lackluster starts
- failing to protect the lead in the 3rd
Pens have had major issues with both the past couple of years - and I know the roster hasn't been great either. The terrible special teams this year is also not a good look.
I see no reason to not let Sullivan start next year as the head coach, but I also don't want to give him too much rope if these issues continue (depending on roster or injuries of course).
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Collin Graf signing with the Sharks
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He can kind of shoot. Not gonna be an NHL guy...I think this gonna be more like a up/down from the Cheese for a few years, maybe a year or two in Italy and then call it...
Sometimes you don't know with these types though...he didn't play with anyone worth a damn for the last four years, so sometimes these guys catch on as a third wheel of a good AHL line and find their way...I lost track him after he left Cedar Rapids (where there were two lines around him, but it didn't do much for him), so I don't exactly know where he's at in his progression...but at this point in my life, these AHL deals almost fascinate more because the folks doing these hit at a greater rate than our amateur scouting team...
Sometimes you don't know with these types though...he didn't play with anyone worth a damn for the last four years, so sometimes these guys catch on as a third wheel of a good AHL line and find their way...I lost track him after he left Cedar Rapids (where there were two lines around him, but it didn't do much for him), so I don't exactly know where he's at in his progression...but at this point in my life, these AHL deals almost fascinate more because the folks doing these hit at a greater rate than our amateur scouting team...
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mikey's Thread of Penguin Randomness
identifying adjustments (or just a scheme in general) is probably something that 95+% of hockey fans just can't do and I will shamelessly admit I'm in that group. hockey, particularly at the pro level, is way too fast. really the only way someone can identify scheme/adjustments is by watching tape which I ain't got time for
that said...even if Sully has made adjustments this season, are we really happy with the result? have we been happy the last couple years with how the team has performed? I understand our roster is lacking in some areas but we're not this bad and the Power Play is suspect #1 as to the failings of the coaching staff imo. it's almost entirely a scheme issue and not a personnel issue. Yet our PP is currently 30th in the league and probably the biggest delta in terms of its potential and its actual productivity in franchise history
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills with some of yalls confidence in Sully. last year was a **** disaster at how the team crashed down the stretch and there was absolutely no reason we should've lost to the eventual lottery winner Blackhawks. Blowing a 3-1 lead against the Rags in the first round 2 years ago. Losing to the Habs in the COVID season. Now possibly being out of the playoffs again this season. The team has had a string of really frustrating ends to the seasons and I'm kind of annoyed at all of the excuses that people make for Sully. He was very good for us, obviously. But the last 4 years have been pain
that said...even if Sully has made adjustments this season, are we really happy with the result? have we been happy the last couple years with how the team has performed? I understand our roster is lacking in some areas but we're not this bad and the Power Play is suspect #1 as to the failings of the coaching staff imo. it's almost entirely a scheme issue and not a personnel issue. Yet our PP is currently 30th in the league and probably the biggest delta in terms of its potential and its actual productivity in franchise history
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills with some of yalls confidence in Sully. last year was a **** disaster at how the team crashed down the stretch and there was absolutely no reason we should've lost to the eventual lottery winner Blackhawks. Blowing a 3-1 lead against the Rags in the first round 2 years ago. Losing to the Habs in the COVID season. Now possibly being out of the playoffs again this season. The team has had a string of really frustrating ends to the seasons and I'm kind of annoyed at all of the excuses that people make for Sully. He was very good for us, obviously. But the last 4 years have been pain
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genuinely asking: what's the argument for Sully? what has he/his staff done in the last two years that points to him doing a good job and deserving another season?
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Despite this being a historically great roster apparently, yeah, I'm pretty happy with the adjustments minus the elephant in the room...I don't know the Sullivan/Reirden relationship, but I don't like how our d-men approach the game any more, I don't like our power play of course...but if he can't pull rank because they aren't his hires, then it's tough to say what to do about that. If he has control over how that goes, then I'm upset...if he doesn't, then I can't be.
The losses at the end of last year - sure.
The Habs series - sure. That team did go all the way to the Final because everything was weird, but sure, we were pretty flat through most of it.
The Pens/Rangers series - I still have yet to find a series in NHL history where the scoring chances and what not were more lopsided. Crosby getting knocked out of the series (when he might have been at his peak level of play, to be honest) and a minor leaguer letting in goals from center is not on Sullivan for me.
The losses at the end of last year - sure.
The Habs series - sure. That team did go all the way to the Final because everything was weird, but sure, we were pretty flat through most of it.
The Pens/Rangers series - I still have yet to find a series in NHL history where the scoring chances and what not were more lopsided. Crosby getting knocked out of the series (when he might have been at his peak level of play, to be honest) and a minor leaguer letting in goals from center is not on Sullivan for me.
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This has been genuinely answered 40 times probably...but you have a guy can coach stars, he's really good with prospect development, he actually gives young players that are worth a damn a chance to play (despite the internet saying to the contrary), he's highly adaptive...we have gone from the most freewheeling offense with unique rush structure (exits and entries), down to a tight NZ trap style of team and back again (after we were asleep for two weeks, he basically gave them the green light to play the "old" way with rush opportunities, and speed behind the puck...that was all those high scoring, high chance games...that afternoon game vs. New York for instance)...he's not a circus character that creates a media storm or makes it about himself...he doesn't give the other team any ammunition in the same vein...MalkinIsMyHomeboy wrote: ↑Thu Apr 04, 2024 3:38 pm genuinely asking: what's the argument for Sully? what has he/his staff done in the last two years that points to him doing a good job and deserving another season?
I'm not saying he gets a free pass for life...but now isn't the time to fire him anymore...after losing to Chicago/CBus last year and you're mad? Go for it. But now that he's got a team of this caliber, of this slowness, with an assistant who seems to be actively torpedoing his in-zone defense, his defense core, and his power play, who traded a top line player...and they're a win away from a play-in game scenario...that's not bad.
I think without any one of Crosby/Jarry/Sullivan for any stretch of time this year, I think this is like a 28-31 win team...
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At this point I'd be happy as hell if Reirden found a HC position somewhere else. Maybe the PP would improve but at this point it needs to get better.
IMHO, Sully isn't going anywhere. His contract is for another 2 years, I think. Who knows after that. The Pens will need to **** the bed worse than they are now before coaches are fired. Paraphrasing here but didn't Dubas say that if Sully was fired he's be out the next day looking for another Sully ?
IMHO, Sully isn't going anywhere. His contract is for another 2 years, I think. Who knows after that. The Pens will need to **** the bed worse than they are now before coaches are fired. Paraphrasing here but didn't Dubas say that if Sully was fired he's be out the next day looking for another Sully ?
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I think it might be three years, even. But yeah, people in the game realize how good this guy is...again, "new voice" blah blah blah, I understand...but you don't want to go from Sullivan down to, say, Dallas Eakins just because you were desperate to get away from this guy...because now you're worse, and you're payin' another guy to be worse...
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mikey's Thread of Penguin Randomness
Max points standings as of 4/4 (current regulation wins):
Washington 96 (28 RW) - 7 GR
Detroit 96 (26 RW) - 7 GR
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Philly 95 (28 RW) - 6 GR
Islanders 95 (25 RW) - 6 GR
Pens 93 (30 RW) - 6 GR
Buffalo 89 (30 RW) - 6 GR
NJ 88 (31 RW) - 6 GR
4/5 games of note:
NYR @ DET
WSH @ CAR
PHI @ BUF
Washington 96 (28 RW) - 7 GR
Detroit 96 (26 RW) - 7 GR
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Philly 95 (28 RW) - 6 GR
Islanders 95 (25 RW) - 6 GR
Pens 93 (30 RW) - 6 GR
Buffalo 89 (30 RW) - 6 GR
NJ 88 (31 RW) - 6 GR
4/5 games of note:
NYR @ DET
WSH @ CAR
PHI @ BUF
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Damn, forgot about the Wings, was thinking it was 4 teams for 2 spots but it’s 5.
Still I’m betting that winners of Flyers/Caps on the 16th and Pens/Isles on the 17th get the spots.
Canes can’t move down and they are unlikely to overtake the Rangers, hoping they bring it tonight.
Still I’m betting that winners of Flyers/Caps on the 16th and Pens/Isles on the 17th get the spots.
Canes can’t move down and they are unlikely to overtake the Rangers, hoping they bring it tonight.
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Too bad they put themselves in this position where they can make no (or very few) mistakes.
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So big games coming up against Tampa/Toronto. Does Ned play both and Jarry gets Detroit?
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They are the worst opponent of the three standings-wise, but Detroit's a 4 point game in the playoff race, I think I go with the hot goaltender and maybe play Jarry vs Tampa. Also it's not for a week, Jarry could be pretty rusty by then.
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No need to make changes with no back-to-backs remaining.
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speaking of liabilities, P.O deserves some love for his recent play
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He's been all right...I'm not sure I trust his process yet, but he hasn't been bad, you're right...