As long as he is fair in his accountability I'll be fine. So when Scuderi and Clendening make the same mistakes, they'll be punished the same.
- jfkst1

He's not a loose cannon like Torts. Rust was sent back to wbs recently. He sucked it up his first game back. Sully made him a healthy scratch his second game. His third game back he played and got an assist.

If a player makes a mistake Sully or Leach would coach the player personally on the bench but made sure the player got back out to redeem himself unlike what happened with Sprong and Johnston the other night.

Who knows what he will be like with Sid and Letang and the boys, but I think he will be objective coming in and hold people accountable. Much like his 3 on 3 drills today making Malkins team do push ups after losing.

I have no doubt they care. If they didn't care Bylsma and Shero would still be steering the ship.
- madmike71

Playoff ticket sales are huge profit producers in the immediate term and following season's ticket sales so I have no doubt that they want playoff success and more than two home games in the postseason.

Playoff ticket sales are huge profit producers in the immediate term and following season's ticket sales so I have no doubt that they want playoff success and more than two home games in the postseason.
- jfkst1

Absolutely. Not to mention the way they've played this year has brought about more negativity than excitement.

Absolutely. Not to mention the way they've played this year has brought about more negativity than excitement.
- madmike71

This is fair. Hey, the margin between expectations being too high and and underachieving is pretty close in this league, where do you think the Pens fall?

This is fair. Hey, the margin between expectations being too high and and underachieving is pretty close in this league, where do you think the Pens fall?
- Jeropotato

I can say for me personally its been closer to the underachieving side. Expectations were high, but our defense is a year or two away from being solid, so that always had to be kept in mind before coming into the season. Still, I thought our offensive power could bale out a lack luster core and give us a legit shot. That has not been the case. Sounds like Sully's game plan is to go in there and let the guns blaze and have the locker room believing again, so maybe this will change.

I can say for me personally its been closer to the underachieving side. Expectations were high, but our defense is a year or two away from being solid, so that always had to be kept in mind before coming into the season. Still, I thought our offensive power could bale out a lack luster core and give us a legit shot. That has not been the case. Sounds like Sully's game plan is to go in there and let the guns blaze and have the locker room believing again, so maybe this will change.
- Victoro311

Yes, keep in mind that expectations will always be high with Sid and Gino, regardless of the rest of the roster, as unfair as that may be at times.

This is fair. Hey, the margin between expectations being too high and and underachieving is pretty close in this league, where do you think the Pens fall?
- Jeropotato

Going into the season you knew the Pens needed to score 4+ goals/gm. They are at the bottom of scoring so the D and MAF can't keep bailing them out. The expectations are high, I dont expect them to win a cup every year, but IMO conference finals are the bar. Past few years they're either too hurt or dont even try in the playoffs. The stars havent been stars lately.

Yes, keep in mind that expectations will always be high with Sid and Gino, regardless of the rest of the roster, as unfair as that may be at times.
- Jeropotato

I find it incredibly unlikely that so many under 30 year old players are having career low seasons simultaneously. That reeks of incompetent management. Last season Letang, Maatta, Pouliot, Cole were all competent top 6 dmen for the Pens. This season they all suck???
I think Johnston has overcorrected for what he perceived to be a lack of PMD that he could trust in his system and largely inhibited most of the team's best players from contributing much. We'll see if Sully can figure it out.

[quote=Victoro311]

Sources Vic, I have my sources!!

Like Hynes he runs a tight ship and has his expectations. One of those is that he commands respect but he is fair. He expects alot but he will go to war with you if you give the effort. He's a coach not an advisor or teacher.
- Reverend Killtaker

So when he's interviewed does he start with 'Kuni, Tanger & Scuds' or 'Kunitz, Letang & Scuderi'?

So when he's interviewed does he start with 'Kuni, Tanger & Scuds' or 'Kunitz, Letang & Scuderi'?
- Aussiepenguin

#58,#4,#14

#58,#4,#14
- Reverend Killtaker

(frank)! I better remember what everyone's number is!

Something I'm having trouble with, if the teams strength is supposed to be skill & speed, but we aren't a fast team how the (frank) do people think that will succeed??

Serious question!

Something I'm having trouble with, if the teams strength is supposed to be skill & speed, but we aren't a fast team how the (frank) do people think that will succeed??

Serious question!
- Aussiepenguin

I asked myself the same question. But I think he means a faster pace, faster transition type deal. We obviously don't have a bunch of Grabners on the team to blaze past the opponent.

Something I'm having trouble with, if the teams strength is supposed to be skill & speed, but we aren't a fast team how the (frank) do people think that will succeed??

Serious question!
- Aussiepenguin

I don't think speed is as important as perceived. Plenty of fast teams that absolutely suck like Colorado and Arizona. A team that controls play and has enough skill to produce offensively is important. How they're accomplishing that is irrelevant. This roster should be controlling play and producing more than it is IMO.

I think the approach taken today was smart with working on tape to tape passing which was an obvious decline from previous years. Once the basics are reestablished I think you will see more positive results on the pp which will bring the team back together again.

Isn't Sullivan known for being quite a disciplinarian? Bergeron seems to like him a lot.
http://www.csnne.com/bost...sullivan-got-penguins-job
- jfkst1

Read this...

http://www.csnmidatlantic...an-wont-let-penguins-hook

Read this...

http://www.csnmidatlantic...an-wont-let-penguins-hook
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Players smiled in WBS.

Players smiled in WBS.
- Reverend Killtaker

lol...I think a lot of it has to do with Tortorella...plus the fact Sullivan seems to have eased his edge a bit since he first became a head coach 12 years ago.

I wish the Blue Jackets weren't in our devision so we could try to trade for him. I've always loved that guy and he's exactly what the team needs. Plus we're weak at LW and strong at RW and the BJ's are the exact opposite (Saad and Foligno are natural LWs) and the Jackets need vet savviness and we need youth. Hornqvist + for Jenner trade would make a lot of sense for both teams.

I wish the Blue Jackets weren't in our devision so we could try to trade for him. I've always loved that guy and he's exactly what the team needs. Plus we're weak at LW and strong at RW and the BJ's are the exact opposite (Saad and Foligno are natural LWs) and the Jackets need vet savviness and we need youth. Hornqvist + for Jenner trade would make a lot of sense for both teams.
- Victoro311

Yeah he would be ideal for this club. I hate walking away from PH though. Id take him and Jenner over Kessel though. But they will see what they have by the 1st week of Jan with the new coach to make any moves. D is a priority though. I think DP is brought up, Scuds is sat, and Sprong is given a better shot. Those are the easy moves.

Yeah he would be ideal for this club. I hate walking away from PH though. Id take him and Jenner over Kessel though. But they will see what they have by the 1st week of Jan with the new coach to make any moves. D is a priority though. I think DP is brought up, Scuds is sat, and Sprong is given a better shot. Those are the easy moves.
- sammy87

I think you need both types of players on a team. It's easy to say you'd rather have Hornqvist and Jenner over Kessel, but the real question is would you rather have Kessel and Hornqvist, Kessel and Jenner, or Jenner and Hornqvist. I'm taking option two because we're shallower at LW and Jenner is younger than Hornqvist and can be effective and cost controlled for a long time to come. I'm not in favor of moving on from Hornqvist in most situations, but Jenner can bring a lot of what Hornqvist does but with a youthful edgy bite. Hornqvist and Murray or Hornqvist and a pick sounds about right to me, but the Jackets are in our devision so that will never happen. It's so frustrating when there's potential for good trades with teams that you can't trade with...

All those moves you mentioned sound right to me. Hopefully by the time Sully has a full picture of what we have (and he's in the best possible position to pass judgment since he knows exactly what we have in WBS), Kunitz has upped his value enough that we can use him in some sort of hockey trade.

I don't think speed is as important as perceived. Plenty of fast teams that absolutely suck like Colorado and Arizona. A team that controls play and has enough skill to produce offensively is important. How they're accomplishing that is irrelevant. This roster should be controlling play and producing more than it is IMO.
- jfkst1

As I said yesterday, when would you ever see Sid & Philbo miss open nets in the same game???

I think this change will ease some tension & loosen up the players, but relying on speed that we don't have to get through physical games is a big concern. If 2 guys are going to grab a puck & 1 knows he's going to get a big hit & he's not fast enough to get in & out without the contact, will he still try??

Yeah he would be ideal for this club. I hate walking away from PH though. Id take him and Jenner over Kessel though. But they will see what they have by the 1st week of Jan with the new coach to make any moves. D is a priority though. I think DP is brought up, Scuds is sat, and Sprong is given a better shot. Those are the easy moves.
- sammy87

Yes easy changes that can be seen as a new look for the team without upsetting anyone. Depending on the system Scuds may be on the outer as they try younger faster players. Will be interesting!!!

What happens if Scuds plays against the Caps????

I think the approach taken today was smart with working on tape to tape passing which was an obvious decline from previous years. Once the basics are reestablished I think you will see more positive results on the pp which will bring the team back together again.
- Reverend Killtaker

Bonding session???