John E&interval; Sokolowski-Imagn Photographs
The Pittsburgh Penguins had their fair proportion of doubters forward of the season. The crew’s first 10 video games solely fuelled these doubts.
Pittsburgh hasn’t won in the last five games, going 0-4-1 after Saturday’s loss towards the Vancouver Canucks. They now sit second-last within the Metropolitan Division with a 3-6-1 document, they usually’ve been outscored 32-12 of their seven losses. These aren’t numbers that help the crew conserving coach Mike Sullivan round for one more season, with playoffs being an crucial objective.
After not successful a playoff spherical since 2018, endurance can solely final so lengthy, making Sullivan a candidate to be the NHL’s first coach fired this season.
Sullivan has been on the job with the Pens since December 2015, making him the second-longest-tenured bench boss within the NHL behind Tampa’s Jon Cooper. However Sullivan is clearly underneath the gun now.
Though Penguins majority ownership at Fenway Sports Group gave Sullivan a vote of confidence earlier than the season, there must be a line within the sand for Sullivan, simply as there’s for each NHL coach.
Pittsburgh has struggled mightily on protection and in objective, permitting 4.20 targets per recreation. Tristan Jarry is in the AHL on a conditioning stint because of that.
“He is a top quality goaltender, he is a top quality particular person… It is our duty to assist gamers by way of a number of the struggles that gamers inevitably undergo on this league.”
Head coach Mike Sullivan on Tristan Jarry#LetsGoPens pic.twitter.com/RrtEGAju4L
— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) October 26, 2024
Their offense hasn’t been lighting it up both, recording three targets per recreation. This subpar streak is an all-around wrestle that factors again to Sullivan.
The Penguins have gentle touches within the schedule – Anaheim, Montreal, Columbus and San Jose – and more durable tilts towards Minnesota, the Islanders, Carolina, Washington, Dallas and Detroit. If the Penguins cannot come out of that 10-game stretch with not less than 14 of a potential 20 factors, they are going to be combating simply to be on the periphery of the Stanley Cup playoff race.
Even the person Fenway Sports activities Group chairman Tom Werner known as “one of many two or three greatest coaches in hockey” should not hold getting caught on this place, even when the roster won’t be what he must succeed. Altering the coach sends a large wake-up name to the crew, identical to it did when Sullivan changed Mike Johnston halfway by way of 2015-16 and led the crew to the Stanley Cup.
Apart from, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas already has a possible Sullivan alternative on board in present assistant coach David Quinn, the previous coach of the New York Rangers and San Jose Sharks.
There are different choices for Pittsburgh as nicely, together with former Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft, former Chicago coach Joel Quenneville, former Kings coach Todd McLellan and present AHL coach Mitch Love. Dubas reuniting with former Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe may’ve been an alternative choice within the low season, however the Devils scooped up Keefe.
Earlier than too lengthy, the purpose of no return will arrive for Pittsburgh. One other yr with out playoff hockey – the third straight season of no playoff hockey for the Penguins – is indefensible, and somebody has to pay for that failure with their job. It is in all probability not going to be Dubas or any of the Penguins’ core star gamers. That leaves Sullivan.
You must give Sullivan his due – he is gained two Cups, and when he does transfer on from Pittsburgh, there shall be no scarcity of organizations excited about hiring him to run their crew. However the Penguins want a recent voice to beat what at the moment ails them.
We’ll be amazed if Sullivan stays Pittsburgh’s coach on the finish of this season. This is not a critique of him and his ways however a remark concerning the transitory nature of the modern-day NHL teaching enterprise. Let’s see what occurs.
Get the most recent information and trending tales proper to your inbox by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your ideas by commenting under the article on THN.com or by visiting our forum.
