You ask. I answer. It’s time for “Mailing It In,” a weekly Q&A that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via X, but you can also hit me up at jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s gooooooo ….
Matt Choate, @mattchoate: Dr Starkey. Is Dan Muse the best professional coach in Pittsburgh right now? He’s doing out of the box things we haven’t seen in a long time. Rakell on the PK tonight, which created a huge goal, is just one example of the things he’s doing.
Starkey: He sure pressed all the right buttons in that resounding win on Long Island, didn’t he, Dr. C? He shuffled all his lines but the fourth. What’s more, Rickard Rakell scored the first shorthanded goal of his career. Muse has found space for him and Erik Karlsson on the PK this year, and that has helped the Penguins.
And to answer your question, yes, right now Muse is doing the best job of any professional coach in Pittsburgh — but that comes with a gigantic caveat: The other two guys (Don Kelly, Mike McCarthy) haven’t coached one full season. Not one full minute in McCarthy’s case.
A fairer question is this: If the Penguins make the playoffs, should Muse win the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the Year?
I say yes, for a simple reason: Of all the teams in playoff position right now, the Penguins had the longest preseason odds of reaching the playoffs. Hence, they are the most surprising team. Muse also has overcome the lengthy absences of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. He has just been superb. Now the Penguins need to finish the job.
My top three picks, among an unusually large list of candidates:
3 — Rick Bowness, Columbus. Came out of retirement to take over a reeling team in January and lit a fire under it that still hasn’t gone out.
2 — Lindy Ruff, Buffalo. The Sabres haven’t been to the playoffs since Mullsy had hair. They hardly ever lose anymore under Ruff. Just a phenomenal job.
1 — Muse.
Rich Radomski (via email): Joe, love the mailbag. I think you should rethink your World Series prediction for the Pirates in 2027. Don’t think there will be MLB in 2027. Maybe 2028 if Skenes is still here. That’s doubtful too!!!!
Starkey: I’m still thinking they’ll find a way to play some semblance of a season, Dr. Radomski, but I could be wrong. If the owners are determined to install a salary cap, they might have to be willing to go dark for an entire season.
I’ll stick with 2027 until otherwise notified, not that I feel ultra confident in that prediction. But here’s the thing: The Pirates will likely have two mega stars in Paul Skenes and Konnor Griffin (at least I hope so with Griffin).
Ed Helinski, @MrEd315: What’s your take on the very late-season NHL coaching change in Vegas?
Starkey: Sometimes, Mr. Ed, the players just grow tired of the same voice. They don’t respond anymore.
Two things are indisputable: Bruce Cassidy did a good and sometimes great job there, winning a Stanley Cup in 2023. But this team was fading fast, going 4-10-2 in Cassidy’s final 16 games.
I don’t blame GM Kelly McCrimmon for making the move. I’ve seen at least one late-season move with a team in playoff position work before. Lou Lamoriello did that, firing Robbie Ftorek and hiring Larry Robinson with eight games left in the season a quarter century ago. The Devils won the Cup. You can’t find many examples, of course, because the move is so unusual.
Now, was John Tortorella the right guy to bring in? I have doubts about that, but if the idea was to send shockwaves through a sagging lineup, Torts can certainly do that.
Ron Edward, @RonaldEdward24: Who will be the next Pittsburgh team to get us out of the near decade playoff slump?
Starkey: I was saying the Pirates for a long time, Dr. 24, but I think it might be the Penguins. If they can snag one of those two spots left in the Metro Division I think they can win a playoff series. There is something special about this team.
BoomBox Billy, @b1llyboombox: Dear Dr. Starkenstein, incrinculent Penguins win. In all of sports who do you think is the dummy of the month for March? WBC, March Madness, MLB, NHL, NBA, NFL? I’ll take Cruz, Judge as runner-up, and Malkin not far behind.
Starkey: Tiger Woods, and it’s not particularly close. Why would he not hire a driver to haul him around, especially given his history with car crashes? He’s lucky he hasn’t killed himself or anyone else.
Burke O’Toole, @BurkeMan513: Dr. Starkey, is it too early to worry about the Pirates? I’m encouraged by the pitching, but the lack of offense and poor defense is concerning. Who would you like to see bat third behind Lowe? Personally I’d like to see Mangum, Lowe, Griffin, O’Hearn for home opener!
Starkey:I wrote about this today at triblive.com, Dr. 513. It’s very early, yes, but here’s the issue: Some of the same problems have arisen, and the Pirates cannot afford another ruinous start. We better see Griffin for the home opener. Oneil Cruz needs to be put way lower in the lineup.
Fanalyst, @BuStA607: What is your dream golf course to play at?
Starkey: Pebble Beach, but Pomp won’t treat me to it.
Donald Hilenbrant, @Hildebeest24: Hello, Joe. I hope your golf game is well. I can’t help but wonder that after these games with Triolo’s bat (lack thereof), and even iffy glove play… would they just have been better off with bringing Griffin here? Might they have already got behind the 8 ball?
Starkey: Not quite yet, but another few losses and this could get ugly early, Dr. H. Again, see my triblive.com “Cup of Joe” from this morning. I get why they started Griffin in Triple-A, but they need him now.
Burghie, @houseofburgh412: What is larger? The size of the net that Mantha is seeing or Mullsy’s cranium?
Starkey: Great question, Dr. 412. I’ll go with Mullsy’s cranium, although Anthony Mantha has been an absolute revelation. All credit to president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas there.
And thank you for asking.