Sullivan out in Pitt

Haha oh boy, I wanted nothing to do with Torts as head coach but I LOVE the idea of having him in the room letting Mika know what a bitch he is.

 

That would be an interesting role reversal...I imagine Torts is gonna try to get a HC job elsewhere.

 

I could definitely see Torts signing on to help Sullivan, at least for a few years.

 

Emily Kaplan saying that’s what’s being discussed.

 

Not rocket science, but I said before Sullivan got fired, he would 100% be the Rangers coach if the Pens were stupid enough to fire him. Once they did, I thought it was a complete no brainer move. Get it done quickly and move forward, no reason to let it linger. I absolutely love it.

At 67 next month in June, I think Torts' time as a head coach is over, he's burnt too many bridges and ruffled too many feathers and is getting older, so reversing their prior Rangers roles is great. I would tell Torts, coach the D/defensive side of the game and do your thing.

I think Sullivan is the perfect coach here. He will not take any BS from the players and surely will hold them accountable and make them play D in a structured way.

This is a good step one. Next, we need some bold aggressive core changing moves around the draft/in July, I may even trade the 1st rounder assuming it is 11-13 and they don't win the lottery. Then I would name Trocheck the next captain, I think it would be a mistake not to have a captain next season.

 

Sounds like Torts won't be on the staff.

 

After 5 years of lusting after him from afar Drury finally gets his guy. Hard to be anything but pumped up about this, though very funny to remember drury’s dance about “looking at everything”.

What we can at least hope for now is true alignment from the FO and the coaching staff. Gallant and Drury were at each other’s throats. Lavi and Drury seemed to be speaking different languages. Hopefully alignment translates into results.

I remain worried about Sulli’s lack of young player development. He is from the old guard where the guys who have earned it get to keep it. Besides Guentzel my pens fans friends can’t name a single player that Sulli truly developed from a young kid with promise into a top end player. But for now we can be optimistic.

One other thing, we give Dolan a TON of shit (and rightfully so). But not many owners in hockey would write a record breaking check so quickly while still paying 2 other coaches to watch from their couches. For better or for worse Drury has Dolan’s trust and in this case it allowed us to write the big check immediately and jump the process.

Now time to remake the roster.

 

that’s too bad. Was separately reported Quinn isnt’t coming along with Sulli either (thank god). Hopefully they still find a role for Muse and/or Peca.

 

Good article from a pens beat guy on Sulli's system: Marshall: I use the Penguins Forecheck Barometer to predict success, and you can too - The Athletic

Also Sully (like most sane coaches in today's game) plays a zone variation in the defensive zone, instead of the man-to-man fiasco we watched the past 2 years. That alone is already a huge improvement.