While we're on the subject about Yohe, he's article "The Truth about Phil Kessel" is a great piece of reporting and makes me worried about Sullivan.

Sparknotes:

Ian Cole was made available for trades and it had nothing to do with expiring contract. Sullivan wanted him gone for personal reasons.

Rutherford wanted Sprong with the big club for most of this year. Sullivan didn't and put him on a short leash. Rutheford eventually had no choice but to send Sprong back down because Sully didn't want him.

Sullivan never gave Fleury a real chance because he liked Murray more.

And of course, now this Phil thing.

I'm starting to think that Sullivan plays favorites more than the average coach and isn't good at managing his relationship with players he doesn't deem to have perfect attitudes and actively tries to oust players that get on his bad side.

It wasn't in this article, but if you guys remember back, Sullivan never wanted Reaves either and essentially overrode Rutherford's decision to quire him by not really deploying him. In this case, I believe Sullivan was correct since Reaves wasn't very good, but Reaves was also not worse than Kuhnhackl or Rowney, so this is another obvious case of Sullivan playing favorites and dictating decisions to Jim Rutherford. That's really problematic. Rutheford should put him in his place a bit.
- Victoro311

How is Torts with his players? Seems like a 'my way or the highway' type coach. Sully was an understudy of Torts so maybe with the success he's had it's turned him into a wienerly character. If there's truth to this, Pens locker room will become toxic & any thoughts of success from here will be naive at best.

Quick fix. JR has a conversation with Sully & tells him to look at how he conducted himself in the first season he won the Cup. Tell Sully if he's doesn't get back to that place he'll be coaching elsewhere next season. It's known that Sully wants players that want to play & do anything for the team, his opinion of Simon might have now changed with the contract stuff & his threat to go to the khl. So good chance Simon isn't on the top line if he stays around. He won't have anyone left eventually if he continues on. Best be looking at coaching options if I were JR.

Said this last season, I'd love to have Gio on the Pens. But it just won't happen.

How is Torts with his players? Seems like a 'my way or the highway' type coach. Sully was an understudy of Torts so maybe with the success he's had it's turned him into a wienerly character. If there's truth to this, Pens locker room will become toxic & any thoughts of success from here will be naive at best.

Quick fix. JR has a conversation with Sully & tells him to look at how he conducted himself in the first season he won the Cup. Tell Sully if he's doesn't get back to that place he'll be coaching elsewhere next season. It's known that Sully wants players that want to play & do anything for the team, his opinion of Simon might have now changed with the contract stuff & his threat to go to the khl. So good chance Simon isn't on the top line if he stays around. He won't have anyone left eventually if he continues on. Best be looking at coaching options if I were JR.
- Aussiepenguin

Sully seems to me exactly like Torts in coaching philosophy, along the lines of a Mike Keenan. These type of coaches are hard to play for, they are demanding but they also get respect from players who respect hard work (Crosby) and you get conflicts with players who dont give everything they have (Kessel). Often these types of coaches have a short shelf life because they wear on players, but I personally think Crosby and Malkin really enjoy playing for him and at the end of the day they run this team.

Im on the fence with trading Kessel, his performance in this years playoffs has left a sour taste in my mouth. People will argue he was injured, whatever, I didnt see the proper level of compete in the playoffs considering the monumental achievement that was on the line. Malkin was injured due to his own stupid antics but I saw Malkin putting it out there, I saw him battling on the boards, fighting for pucks trying to make things happen, I did not see any of this from Kessel. It looked to me like Kessel was ok with going home early.

Im not interested in just giving Kessel away, he is a top scorer with a great contract. But I would deal him for a hockey trade.

If they got a true top end defenseman, especially one who can qb a PP taking Phil's role there, it would be worth exploring. We'd lose in one area but gain in another.
- Tojo.

I promise that in the area the Pens would lose; that would be come the story at the deadline. The Pens would be shopping for a top-six goal scoring winger.

This is more what I thought the knights would look like this year. Hard work. No finish

As much as I hate the guy. Kuznetsov should get Conn Smyth.

As much as I hate the guy. Kuznetsov should get Conn Smyth.
- Thorny87

They're going to give it to OV. Lifetime achievement award.

This is more what I thought the knights would look like this year. Hard work. No finish
- Thorny87

Dude, they're in the (frank)in cup

Dude, they're in the (frank)in cup
- Rinosaur

Easy guy. Not taking that away from them at all. I’m saying this is how I thought they’re team would look at the start of the year.

That pass from Backstrom was beautiful. He’s the only guy I like on their team.

Djoos deserved a call for mugging. Perron was basically tackled into the net.

Easy guy. Not taking that away from them at all. I’m saying this is how I thought they’re team would look at the start of the year.
- Thorny87

They've played the Caps better than the Pens did.

orpik is a pos

orpik is a pos
- all-pgh

That whole team is one giant pile of shyte.

That whole team is one giant pile of shyte.
- madmike71

cant argue with that

who are those two idiots in the front row standing the whole time

fleury still creating havoc for himself with his puck handling

fleury still creating havoc for himself with his puck handling
- all-pgh

Flower does cause problems for his team from time to time but I wish MM played the puck better. That’s an area I think he needs improvement in.

Flower does cause problems for his team from time to time but I wish MM played the puck better. That’s an area I think he needs improvement in.
- Thorny87

100% agree, MM needs to learn the MAF poke check

Flower does cause problems for his team from time to time but I wish MM played the puck better. That’s an area I think he needs improvement in.
- Thorny87

I think Murray is OK. At least he doesn't do more than he should.....which was always MAF's problem. Jarry has really good puck skills, but I think he was under orders to mostly stay in the net.....not a bad thing for a young tender.

Empty net. Please VGK tie this up.

AT LONG LAST!!! Matt Niskanen is a Stanley Cup Champion!!!

You can almost see the relief in their reactions. Congrats caps and fans!

Blah, not happy about Tom Wilson winning a Stanley cup. Vegas just got their first full taste of 4 goal Fleury this series

Odd Holtby was 7-8 down the list.