PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It seems from the time the NHL began the easy solution to fixing a team problem has been to fire the head coach. It’s worked for the Pens twice, after firing Michael Therrien the Pens beat Detroit to win a third Stanley Cup under Dan Bylsma.
Mike Sullivan replaced Mike Johnston in December of 2015 and by June of 2106 the new coach won a fourth championship followed the next year by another Stanley Cup parade in Pittsburgh.
Hockey Night in Canada’s Elliotte Friedman believes Pens management won’t do that to Sullivan for the recent playoff woes. Friedman reports Sullivan will be back for the 2021-22 season.
“Ultimately you get judged on your success,” Sullivan said. “I think our performance in the regular season. I would have to think it’s acceptable that we won our division.”
“Having said that we have higher expectations in Pittsburgh. We have higher expectations inside our room. We didn’t ultimately live up to that. We all have to take ownership of it.”
It was a remarkable regular season to overcome injuries to numerous key players and at one point piecing together a defensive roster. Sullivan should be credited for how the team bought in during the regular season.
The post-season recently has been a disaster. Winners of 4 of their last 19 playoff games. Think about that stat, not only not advancing, but getting run in most series to where winning two games against the Islanders might feel like an improvement.
What players are saying publicly doesn’t make you feel like he’s lost the room.
“He’s incredible good at dumbing down and making sure his message is direct for the team to understand what is expected and needed against each team that we play against,” said defenseman Mike Matheson. “He’s great at being able to digest the game and really narrow down the focus to what did we do well, what didn’t we do well and how do we change that. So next time we play them we do that in a much better way.”
“He gives you energy and excitement for each shift you go out on the ice.”
“I think Sully’s a great coach,” said forward Brandon Tanev. “He does a great job for this group and has for many years. I was thankful enough to come to Pittsburgh last year and be with him and see the work he puts in every day. Every day he comes to the rink ready to work, excited, enthusiastic. He’s a great individual, even better coach. We are lucky to have him in Pittsburgh.”
This management team did not hire Sullivan. He’s under contract for three more seasons at a time when most pro sports teams are losing money.
It would seem given past coaching decisions, the start to next season, rather than this offseason, will determine his future.