Johnston was a horrible hire from the start.

Thank goodness he's gone.

I predict instant improvement. I predict that Sullivan will let the players play to their own strengths instead of being forced to be something they aren't.

Hopefully the centers' defensive responsibility will be decreased.

Hopefully the forwards will be allowed to aggressively pursue the puck on the forecheck.

Really looking forward to Monday right now.
- hardnosed

You do realize how you want them to play was how they played for years ? The pens can no longer hope to out score other teams. It sure hasn't worked in the playoffs lately. There is no fix her except trade for assets from your strengths. Malkin or Crosby before you become non competitive like us !!!

In Sullivan's first interview he said he wants to allow his best players more leeway to be creative/play their style rather than pigeonhole them into a certain system.

(Paraphrased -- but music to my ears)
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I'm ready from some good old fashioned up and down Penguins hockey. Chances in the playoffs be damned.

Regular season dominance would be fine with me right now. Playoffs is all about the matchups you get anyway.

Our forward grouping is actually quite strong, but the system neutered them all. Our defense corp is not strong, but a small trade for a mid pairing RHD would go a long way.
- Victoro311

If Pouliot and some spare parts got us in the game for Barrie, I think we'd be set. My faith in Pouliot has wavered, I'd be okay trading him for a more established version of Pouliot

I'm ready from some good old fashioned up and down Penguins hockey. Chances in the playoffs be damned.

Regular season dominance would be fine with me right now. Playoffs is all about the matchups you get anyway.
- hardnosed

God how fun was that 3 on 3 last night. Thats a dramatic version of what your refering to, but Pens should just go with the Dallas model for how their roster is constructed.

You do realize how you want them to play was how they played for years ? The pens can no longer hope to out score other teams. It sure hasn't worked in the playoffs lately. There is no fix her except trade for assets from your strengths. Malkin or Crosby before you become non competitive like us !!!
- jmdodgeser4

Except that we had no depth in those years. That was always the issue. Personnel decisions and injuries is what buried us during the Bylsma era, not necessarily the run and gun style, although that didn't help Fleury none. We fixed the personnel issues up front over this offseason, but they still exist on the blue line. Luckily we do have some good pieces back there, they just need time to grow up together and a slightly better supporting cast. A mid pairing RHD and benching Scuderi for Clendening would go a long way.

You do realize how you want them to play was how they played for years ? The pens can no longer hope to out score other teams. It sure hasn't worked in the playoffs lately. There is no fix her except trade for assets from your strengths. Malkin or Crosby before you become non competitive like us !!!
- jmdodgeser4

Fully aware. Those were the days when the Penguins would win the division.

Penguins can totally outscore teams. The forward group is more talented than at any point since the early 90's. The defense just needs to spend less time playing passive defense and more time pressing with their offensive ability. All the D except for Scuds and Cole have the ability to carry the puck through traffic.

This fix will be quick and scary for the rest of the NHL. Kind of like when Todd Haley stopped trying to run the ball 50 times a game and got back to keeping the ball in the hands of his quarterback.

Haha...you and Rev I think were the only ones joining me in wanting Sullivan. Dude has the right attitude and resume and he doesnt cost a draft pick.

I didnt hear anything about Sully being the "interim" coach, but ill be very interesting if another team fires a coach after Jan 1st...a big name like Boudreau or something...but I think Sully is going to do well here so hopefully a moot point
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I wanted him...

Whoop whoop. Time for scuds to be demoted and pouliot up to see what he can do also time to bring up a 13th forward. I. Guessing Wilson rust or sheary

Whoop whoop. Time for scuds to be demoted and pouliot up to see what he can do also time to bring up a 13th forward. I. Guessing Wilson rust or sheary
- nh4442

I hope rust or wilson. I don't want simon up cuz I don't want him to sit in the pressbox.

I hope rust or wilson. I don't want simon up cuz I don't want him to sit in the pressbox.
- martox

If one of our LWs gets hurt or traded I would really like to see what Simon can do. He did well in the rookie tourny and preseason and according to Rev he's been a stud in WBS under Sully.

You Guys wanted this for a while. Cause for a celly ?

First time in twelve years I haven't order the NHL package at the start of the season, I just did this morning. Also the first season I haven't watched every game...I'm at three for the year! It is going to be so much fun watching this, Sullivan is exactly who they need.

Its abut time, i woke up to the notification, id say its pretty impossible to wake up on the wrong side of the bed like that.

Tanger out two weeks and its not a concussion. Could have been worse. But we have some tough games in that span. This may not be pretty. If Rutherford is serious about making a trade for a top 4 defenseman, now would be nice, but Kunitz's value isn't there yet and trading Hornqvist without seeing him with Sidney Crosby again is premature.

Tanger out two weeks and its not a concussion. Could have been worse. But we have some tough games in that span. This may not be pretty. If Rutherford is serious about making a trade for a top 4 defenseman, now would be nice, but Kunitz's value isn't there yet and trading Hornqvist without seeing him with Sidney Crosby again is premature.
- Victoro311

What's the consensus on here? Who's brought in and who goes?

What's the consensus on here? Who's brought in and who goes?
- Topshelf Mountain

OUT: Scuderi and risk adverse insurance agent system
IN: Clendening/Pouliot and aggressive system that fits playing styles of the roster

Remember the night and day difference that happened overnight between head coaches MT and DB? That's what I want to see.

OUT: Scuderi and risk adverse insurance agent system
IN: Clendening/Pouliot and aggressive system that fits playing styles of the roster

Remember the night and day difference that happened overnight between head coaches MT and DB? That's what I want to see.
- jfkst1

Haha, the right moves for sure but I'm wondering about the trades everyone is referencing.

Haha, the right moves for sure but I'm wondering about the trades everyone is referencing.
- Topshelf Mountain

I think they should wait to see how everyone fits with Sullivan's system. Almost everyone on the roster other than Lovejoy and Scuderi are not well suited to play in an ultra conservative system and the results speak for themselves in that regard. Might not need as many changes as people think once players are put into positions to succeed at.

Haha, the right moves for sure but I'm wondering about the trades everyone is referencing.
- Topshelf Mountain

There's no reason to even consider trades until they see how the strategy changes pan out.

I thought they could win with Letang/Maatta/Cole/Lovejoy/Dumoulin/Pouliot before the season started, and the only thing I've seen so far is that Johnston is a Mickey Mouse coach in a Jurassic Park league, not that those guys can't play.

I think they should wait to see how everyone fits with Sullivan's system. Almost everyone on the roster other than Lovejoy and Scuderi are not well suited to play in an ultra conservative system and the results speak for themselves in that regard. Might not need as many changes as people think once players are put into positions to succeed at.
- jfkst1

I agree they should hold tight for now. I read earlier that some were wanting a top four d-man.

There's no reason to even consider trades until they see how the strategy changes pan out.

I thought they could win with Letang/Maatta/Cole/Lovejoy/Dumoulin/Pouliot before the season started, and the only thing I've seen so far is that Johnston is a Mickey Mouse coach in a Jurassic Park league, not that those guys can't play.
- hardnosed

Right. Everyone is complaining about the lack of capable dmen, but how does anyone know if they are capable or not? They don't get a chance to play. Clendening looked superior to Scuderi yet never played so how do we know Pouliot isn't NHL ready?

I agree they should hold tight for now. I read earlier that some were wanting a top four d-man.
- Topshelf Mountain

There's no rush to make a move. The league is in a gridlock due to cap restrictions and the Pens are one of the few contenders with some decent cap room thanks to Dupuis' LTIR. IMO they should give it 10+ games before making a judge on what, if anything, they need to do.

Mike Sullivan?????? He's Tortorella's prodigee.
- rangerdanger94

You have Tocchet and Sully. Both former Bolt coaches.

Haha, the right moves for sure but I'm wondering about the trades everyone is referencing.
- Topshelf Mountain

Well, I'd like to give a couple weeks of no Scuderi (if they finally do that) and giving Clend, Pouliot, and even Warf (what a nice surprise he was btw) some more time before doing trades...

BUT... If we could trade off Kunitz for anything (he has small value still), and bring up Simon from the AHL, that'd be nice for cap flexibility for whatever else. Another Defenseman, sure, why not? No big deal if not, cap room on this team would be (frank)ing nice for once in the last decade.

Scuds... yeah, trade him if possible, but I will assume the buy out is occurring for him.