From last thread:
Ah gothcya. I thought it was all time players.

I dont know...Kuny-Sid-Dupuis was pretty damn special too....

I really did think about doing it but I couldn't pass up the Kuni-Geno-Neal line.
- 668710

Yeah that line was certainly fire. Think I lean more towards the Kuny-Sid-Dupuis...I think...I dont know haha

Hockey’s unpredictable. I think it would undoubtedly require a coaching change but the Pens could still win A couple of series. You win a couple and who knows what happens. If Sullivan is still going to pretend this is the 2016 and coach as such then yeah not a snowballs chance in hell.
- Grinder47

If I've learned one thing from watching the Flyers get torched over the years, it's to never count out Sidney Crosby. As good as Guentzel, Malkin, and Letang are (were), this team will only go as far as Crosby and the goaltending will take them. If they get league average goaltending, Crosby can still carry them for one last hurrah.

Hockey’s unpredictable. I think it would undoubtedly require a coaching change but the Pens could still win A couple of series. You win a couple and who knows what happens. If Sullivan is still going to pretend this is the 2016 and coach as such then yeah not a snowballs chance in hell.
- Grinder47

I've previously felt that Sullivan's time was done and they needed a fresh voice in the locker room, but this past season tells me otherwise. I don't care how good a coach or a team is, if you ask the fans they will gripe about SOMETHING their coach does that drives them insane. That said, I thought he had this team playing well and IMO the ONLY reason they lost that series against the Islanders was goaltending, nothing else.

I also thought going into this season that Sullivan would be on a short leash because I expected Hextall to bring in bigger more physical players, so they can get this team playing a heavier style of hockey and if he didn't get them playing that way, they'd axe him, but they didn't get those players, so I think that barring a major implosion not based on a series of bad injuries, Sullivan is here through at least this coming season.

I've previously felt that Sullivan's time was done and they needed a fresh voice in the locker room, but this past season tells me otherwise. I don't care how good a coach or a team is, if you ask the fans they will gripe about SOMETHING their coach does that drives them insane. That said, I thought he had this team playing well and IMO the ONLY reason they lost that series against the Islanders was goaltending, nothing else.

I also thought going into this season the Sullivan would be on a short leash because I expected Hextall to bring in bigger more physical players, so they can get this team playing a heavier style of hockey and if he didn't get them playing that way, they'd axe him, but they didn't get those players, so I think that barring a major implosion not based on a series of bad injuries, Sullivan is here through at least this coming season.
- Rinosaur

I think he is too. Last season, before it started, I was thinking the Pens might be headed for missing the playoffs and Sully potentially get axed mid season. This season, because of them winning division last season, reasons you just said and him being the team USA coach, I think he's going to be there all season again.

I think he is too. Last season, before it started, I was thinking the Pens might be headed for missing the playoffs and Sully potentially get axed mid season. This season, because of them winning division last season, reasons you just said and him being the team USA coach, I think he's going to be there all season again.
- MattStrat

Not to mention if Geno misses the first month or two, Sullivan will have all the slack in the world. It's going to take a MASSIVE implosion for them to fire him this year.

The more I think about it, there's a decent list of excuses Sullivan will be given to take the blame away...

1) If they aren't scoring enough or in general sustaining enough offensive pressure, it's because Geno is out injured.

2) If they're getting beat by two or three goals a game or a few too many blowouts, it's because they didn't address the goaltending when they felt they needed to.

3) If they're getting pushed around physically, it's because they didn't bring in the players they should have.

So when I say massive implosion, they're just going to have to look like an utter poop show on the ice IMO for him to be gone.

Yeah that line was certainly fire. Think I lean more towards the Kuny-Sid-Dupuis...I think...I dont know haha
- MattStrat

I also took into consideration that doing it the way I choose also allowed to have both Guentz and Kuni on the team. And it also puts 2 40 goal scorers on each line.(Guentz,Neal)

The more I think about it, there's a decent list of excuses Sullivan will be given to take the blame away...

1) If they aren't scoring enough or in general sustaining enough offensive pressure, it's because Geno is out injured.

2) If they're getting beat by two or three goals a game or a few too many blowouts, it's because they didn't address the goaltending when they felt they needed to.

3) If they're getting pushed around physically, it's because they didn't bring in the players they should have.

So when I say massive implosion, they're just going to have to look like an utter poop show on the ice IMO for him to be gone.
- Rinosaur

Sully is coaching Team USA. He isnt getting canned during the season. The earliest would be after the season, like ironically, Bylsma was after he coached Team USA.

There was word a bit ago that Tocchet had gotten a job offer as an assistant coach with the Penguins. He was debating between that and a job with Gretzky on TNT. They said Sully would welcome Tocchet back, so Sully must be feeling really confident that he aint going anywhere.

Sully is coaching Team USA. He isnt getting canned during the season. The earliest would be after the season, like ironically, Bylsma was after he coached Team USA.

There was word a bit ago that Tocchet had gotten a job offer as an assistant coach with the Penguins. He was debating between that and a job with Gretzky on TNT. They said Sully would welcome Tocchet back, so Sully must be feeling really confident that he aint going anywhere.
- SuperHenderson13

And he shouldn't be going anywhere. Rutherford was wheeling and dealing away players at a ridiculous rate. He put Sully in tough positions and all Sully did was win. Our goaltending caved in our chances in the playoffs. They were a pretty damn good team last season. I don't understand the people on here who want Sully fired. It feels like they want to make a change for the sake of making a change.

And he shouldn't be going anywhere. Rutherford was wheeling and dealing away players at a ridiculous rate. He put Sully in tough positions and all Sully did was win. Our goaltending caved in our chances in the playoffs. They were a pretty damn good team last season. I don't understand the people on here who want Sully fired. It feels like they want to make a change for the sake of making a change.
- burgh4life87

Last year's team was Sullivan's team. Right down to the goaltenders. Maybe you can make excuses with the Malkin and DeSmith injuries, maybe.

That was the team he wanted, he coached them the way he wanted, they played the way he wanted, yet they still lost handily to the Isles.

I see no reason to expect anything different this year. Good regular season, poor playoff results.

Last year's team was Sullivan's team. Right down to the goaltenders. Maybe you can make excuses with the Malkin and DeSmith injuries, maybe.

That was the team he wanted, he coached them the way he wanted, they played the way he wanted, yet they still lost handily to the Isles.

I see no reason to expect anything different this year. Good regular season, poor playoff results.
- Thunderbolt

Sullivan plays the team the GM gives him. He was able to choose from Jarry, DeSmith, or AHL caliber players with no experience. DeSmith was injured in the playoffs, so Jarry was basically his only choice.

Sullivan is the coach, not the GM, so not sure how it was "his" team, "the team he wanted." I'm sure that if he had his way, "the team he wanted" would have had Andrei Vasilevsky, Victor Hedman, Cale Makar, Connor McDavid, and Ron Hainsey.

Sullivan plays the team the GM gives him. He was able to choose from Jarry, DeSmith, or AHL caliber players with no experience. DeSmith was injured in the playoffs, so Jarry was basically his only choice.

Sullivan is the coach, not the GM, so not sure how it was "his" team, "the team he wanted." I'm sure that if he had his way, "the team he wanted" would have had Andrei Vasilevsky, Victor Hedman, Cale Makar, Connor McDavid, and Ron Hainsey.
- jmatchett383

He also helps the GM decide on what players to acquire, which was shown during their web series "In the Room" where GMJR, Sully and Sam Ventura were all deciding on what players to acquire during free agency and it ultimately came down to GMJR acquiring the players that Sully requested, so it definitely was, at least partly, "his team."

He also helps the GM decide on what players to acquire, which was shown during their web series "In the Room" where GMJR, Sully and Sam Ventura were all deciding on what players to acquire during free agency and it ultimately came down to GMJR acquiring the players that Sully requested, so it definitely was, at least partly, "his team."
- j.boyd919

Yea could you imagine if Sully had a big influence when they were acquiring Kessel. Sully may have said no lol. Thank God.

Yea could you imagine if Sully had a big influence when they were acquiring Kessel. Sully may have said no lol. Thank God.
- 668710

I wish Kessel was still with the Pens. I know many people here were screaming for the Pens to move him, but man, he's what this team is missing in so many ways.

He also helps the GM decide on what players to acquire, which was shown during their web series "In the Room" where GMJR, Sully and Sam Ventura were all deciding on what players to acquire during free agency and it ultimately came down to GMJR acquiring the players that Sully requested, so it definitely was, at least partly, "his team."
- j.boyd919

Yes, he has input, but the GM ultimately makes the trades. He also sets the roster which, again, the coach should have some input on.

Also, calling it "the team he wanted" isn't true. Maybe "his most favorable team he could get based on what was available" but not "the team he wanted."

Yes, he has input, but the GM ultimately makes the trades. He also sets the roster which, again, the coach should have some input on.

Also, calling it "the team he wanted" isn't true. Maybe "his most favorable team he could get based on what was available" but not "the team he wanted."
- jmatchett383

Semantics, but yeah sure. lol

I wish Kessel was still with the Pens. I know many people here were screaming for the Pens to move him, but man, he's what this team is missing in so many ways.
- Rinosaur

Never understood that move. Dude brought it.

Never understood that move. Dude brought it.
- IronCity

Don't hold me to this, but watching an interview with JR that I remember, I think Phil wanted out despite no formal trade request to the media.

Don't hold me to this, but watching an interview with JR that I remember, I think Phil wanted out despite no formal trade request to the media.
- Rinosaur

Yeah I dunno GMJR threw players under the bus on the reg on their way out.

Yeah I dunno GMJR threw players under the bus on the reg on their way out.
- j.boyd919

Yeah, he was definitely a little female dog about that. He was pretty harsh on Schultz, but still sung JJ's praises even after the buyout. He couldn't own up to his (frank)ups.

Don't hold me to this, but watching an interview with JR that I remember, I think Phil wanted out despite no formal trade request to the media.
- Rinosaur

But why?!

But why?!
- IronCity

Idk why, I believe Kessel and Sully didn't get along.

Idk why, I believe Kessel and Sully didn't get along.
- 668710

Yeah, I think there was a rift because Phil refused to change his game and Sully wanted him playing in their system more or more defensively, something like that. I also think I remember reading that Phil just doesn't go all out in practice either which would get on the nerves of the coaching staff and some players. If he really didn't put a lot of effort in practice I wonder if that's why he rarely had injury issues. Not overworking his body.

Yeah, I think there was a rift because Phil refused to change his game and Sully wanted him playing in their system more or more defensively, something like that. I also think I remember reading that Phil just doesn't go all out in practice either which would get on the nerves of the coaching staff and some players. If he really didn't put a lot of effort in practice I wonder if that's why he rarely had injury issues. Not overworking his body.
- Rinosaur

I mean sounds good to me, how could you get mad at him. He always produced.

I mean sounds good to me, how could you get mad at him. He always produced.
- 668710

Yup.