Bringing in a few guys that maybe have natural violent disposition and want to be involved in poop would be nice. I don’t know who these guys are or where you would find them but this attitude towards hockey was old even during the cup runs.

Man I really liked the Graves signing. (frank)ing sucks it’s turning out the way it is since his contract is so big he’s likely here to stay.

RW won’t admit it but really the only move to make is to swap out Sullivan and see if some of these struggling guys can turn it around under a new vision. Yes Sullivan is a good coach, and yes there is significant risk we will end up with a downgrade, but Sully’s shelf life has expired and sticking with him isn’t going to get us anywhere. Same exact situation as Tomlin.
- Victoro311

Man I really liked the Graves signing. (frank)ing sucks it’s turning out the way it is since his contract is so big he’s likely here to stay.

RW won’t admit it but really the only move to make is to swap out Sullivan and see if some of these struggling guys can turn it around under a new vision. Yes Sullivan is a good coach, and yes there is significant risk we will end up with a downgrade, but Sully’s shelf life has expired and sticking with him isn’t going to get us anywhere. Same exact situation as Tomlin.
- Victoro311

Forgive the intrusion but your problems have nothing to do with sullivan. Your problem is that your window has closed and you cant or wont face it. Your team is old, your core is older. Getting rid of your coach will not change that. You need talent.

Forgive the intrusion but your problems have nothing to do with sullivan. Your problem is that your window has closed and you cant or wont face it. Your team is old, your core is older. Getting rid of your coach will not change that. You need talent.
- LFS

I doubt you find people willing to say PIT is a top team, or that their players are in their primes. However, it's known those core guys aren't going anywhere until they retire and the question is more of "can we get these guys into the playoffs and from there who knows" vs "how can we turn them into a cup favorite". The latter is unlikely, the former, with style of play adjustments, minor tweaks, is a very reasonable ask. Currently the issue toward that goal is really only the powerplay and how to get it to where it is at least average...as the talent, albeit older, is still very much there to do so.

To that end,indeed, the larger problem is not likely with Sullivan, as while the PP is not doing so well, in other aspects of the game the team has been pretty decent. He is the guy in charge of coaching though, so as far as who is responsible, from a coaching perspective, to make that happen .. it is him. He won't get fired over it, as that would be dumb...but he needs to be trying things out, PP coaches, etc.

Forgive the intrusion but your problems have nothing to do with sullivan. Your problem is that your window has closed and you cant or wont face it. Your team is old, your core is older. Getting rid of your coach will not change that. You need talent.
- LFS

We know the window is closed. We just want to see entertaining hockey until Sid/Geno retire. The hockey lately has not been entertaining. No cup aspirations here or from most Pens fans.

The analytics guys weren't too fond of the Graves signing when it happened. I think a lot of people (non-analytics) thought he was more physical and a better defensively then he is. But on the otherhand, Devils fans think their D sucks because they lost him. I think maybe a different defensive system would benefit Graves but with Reirden here, that ain't changing.
- j.boyd919

Yeah my assumption on Graves at the moment is that he’s system dependent and he doesn’t fit here. Obviously you don’t make a coaching change to benefit a guy like Graves but with the whole team drowning it becomes part of the consideration that maybe a new coach could fix the Graves problem.

Forgive the intrusion but your problems have nothing to do with sullivan. Your problem is that your window has closed and you cant or wont face it. Your team is old, your core is older. Getting rid of your coach will not change that. You need talent.
- LFS

What Boyd said. I just want Sid and Malkin to go out having fun and no one is having fun right now.

Forgive the intrusion but your problems have nothing to do with sullivan. Your problem is that your window has closed and you cant or wont face it. Your team is old, your core is older. Getting rid of your coach will not change that. You need talent.
- LFS

What, this Pens team is too old to win another Cup. What a shocking revelation. Thank you for pointing that out, you are so perceptive.

Actually one of the top issues people have with Sullivan is that he still coaches them like they were five years younger.

Bringing in a few guys that maybe have natural violent disposition and want to be involved in poop would be nice. I don’t know who these guys are or where you would find them but this attitude towards hockey was old even during the cup runs.
- Grinder47

Agree, I was bored out of my mind back them watching them win Cups but not play violently enough.

They may as well try Puustinen on the top PP tonight. Being a right shot on the PP is his best attribute.

I'm not sure any fifth guy magically solves it though. You have to look at the four guys who have been on the top unit all year. At this point it might be worth replacing Karlsson or Guentzel.

What, this Pens team is too old to win another Cup. What a shocking revelation. Thank you for pointing that out, you are so perceptive.

Actually one of the top issues people have with Sullivan is that he still coaches them like they were five years younger.
- Tojo.

Yep.

Hornqvist... One of my all time favorite Pens. Don't with the cup without him.

This game looks weird. Almost like it’s not real lol. And wow nice save.

Tanger cmon man

Puus looks ok so far on that line

I can't watch this one, it's not on espn+ because for some reason the NHL has its own channel to bury games on.

Looks like a lot of AHL guys are in. The PP has managed 0.15 xG in 4 mins, so I guess they're trying to keep the streak alive.

What Boyd said. I just want Sid and Malkin to go out having fun and no one is having fun right now.
- Victoro311

I’d rather see the pens unload everyone so they can get a run or 2 before they retire. Crosby in CO with Mac would be epic.

Do you really think they’re having fun at this point? Athletes at the top want to go out winning. Not just put on a show.

Smith needed that

Nice fn goal.

I missed the first but they mostly looked great so far in this 2nd period. Bottom six has had some good shifts

Smith needed that
- Thorny87

Geno has got some hop in this game. Best in weeks.

Geno has got some hop in this game. Best in weeks.
- madmike71

Definitely. Whole team has some pep. Young blood pushing the pace on the bottom lines

I’d rather see the pens unload everyone so they can get a run or 2 before they retire. Crosby in CO with Mac would be epic.

Do you really think they’re having fun at this point? Athletes at the top want to go out winning. Not just put on a show.
- sammy87

We know. You’ve been wanting to trade Malkin since 2013. We aren’t getting MacKinnon

We know. You’ve been wanting to trade Malkin since 2013. We aren’t getting MacKinnon
- Victoro311

Hahaha

I’d rather see the pens unload everyone so they can get a run or 2 before they retire. Crosby in CO with Mac would be epic.

Do you really think they’re having fun at this point? Athletes at the top want to go out winning. Not just put on a show.
- sammy87

These guys are proud professional hockey players. Their mindsets and attitudes are far different from the common fan's. They haven't even given up on this season yet, like you and so many more have.