Let’s be honest: Letting Mike Sullivan go was an easy decision for the Penguins. (This wasn’t all that mutual.)
He’s a very good coach, and there’s no diminishing what Sullivan did early in his tenure.
But Sullivan had long since lapsed into Mike Tomlin mode, not winning a playoff series since 2018 and not making the postseason the last three years.
President of hockey ops/GM Kyle Dubas was unerring in his logic when he pointed out that NHL coaches don’t win, rebuild, then win in the same place. It just doesn’t happen.
Thanks to Sullivan for a job well done in Pittsburgh. He might go to the New York Rangers, become the highest-paid coach in NHL, and be taught very quickly by that flawed team and organization that money isn’t everything.
Sidney Crosby released a vanilla statement about Sullivan’s departure. Crosby abhors change, but the organization doesn’t seem to have any sense that he wants to follow Sullivan out the door. As Dubas said simply, “No.”
A change was absolutely needed. That locker room has been too comfortable in its failure. Too many old mercenaries stealing paychecks and getting by on veteran cachet.
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The Penguins figure to get a big injection of youth. That’s good for culture and energy. But if it’s the same coach coaching the same way, the staleness would not dissipate.
But even a different coach could perpetuate that staleness.
That’s why the new coach can’t be Rick Tocchet, who just parted ways with Vancouver. An excellent coach, but it would feel stagnant and like recycling given his past as a Penguins assistant under Sullivan.
It can’t be David Quinn, who served as an assistant under Sullivan this past season. He was standing right next to Sullivan when the Penguins failed.
It certainly can’t be some old-school lifer like Peter Laviolette, Joel Quenneville or Gerard Gallant. You wouldn’t be moving forward.
If it’s John Tortorella, the Penguins would be dead to me. (It won’t be.)
Dubas seems to be leaning toward a lesser name that’s climbing the coaching ladder with some degree of success and regard.
The blueprint would be Washington’s Spencer Carbery, who has drastically rejuvenated the Capitals during his two seasons with the team. ECHL, American Hockey League, NHL assistant, did well at all levels, 43 years old, new face, new ideas, new attitude, just new.
Two possibilities readily and obviously fit that description: David Carle, head coach at Denver University, and Todd Nelson, head coach of the AHL’s Hershey Bears.
Carle, 35, seems to be everybody’s target. He just pulled out of consideration for the Chicago job and might feel he could do better than Pittsburgh. Everybody speaks highly of Carle.
Carle has won two NCAA titles in seven seasons at Denver. He’s won gold medals coaching the U.S. at the last two World Junior Championships.
Carle is organized and regimented. He’s a young, rising coach who could stamp his identity on a youthful, improving roster. (He’s younger than Crosby.)
Nelson, 55, has won three AHL championships. He’s been an NHL assistant. He briefly coached Edmonton on an interim basis in 2014-15. Nelson isn’t young, but he’s not worn out. He knows how to develop. He’s big on culture. Barry Trotz coached and influenced Nelson, so Nelson is buttoned-up.
Nelson played one game for the Penguins in 1991-92. No, his name isn’t on the Stanley Cup.
There are plenty of options that roughly fit the mold Dubas is looking for.
Ex-Edmonton Coach Jay Woodcroft, 48, is known for being good with young players, and he’s also coached stars.
Manny Malhotra, 44, was an assistant for Toronto when Dubas worked for the Leafs. He was head coach of Vancouver’s AHL affiliate this season.
As Dubas said, he will “cast a wide net.”
The Penguins’ priority is not to squeak into the playoffs next season, then lose in the first round. It’s to develop a legit contender. That won’t happen overnight. The timetable can’t be rushed to fit Crosby’s. If the Penguins arrive early and organically, that’s a bonus.
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Now, it’s all on Dubas.
Given his Boston-area roots, Sullivan was a Fenway Sports Group favorite. That connection kept Dubas from absorbing all of the responsibility.
But now it’s Dubas’ coach, Dubas’ team, Dubas’ plan, Dubas’ everything.
I’m betting that Dubas will be the hero when the smoke clears.
So is FSG.