ON MIKE SULLIVAN’S FIRST DAY AT THE HELM
If you listen to John Tortorella much since taking over in Columbus, it was a lot of similar talk from Mike Sullivan today on his first day of the job as Penguins head coach.
Trusting the process, creating an identity, playing the right way, among key points of interest for Sullivan.
“For me I’ve always had an honest straight forward approach,” Sullivan said today after practice. “I hope I can aspire these guys to play a certain way. For me only way I know how to do it is an honest candid assessment.”
One of Mike Johnston’s biggest downfalls and some of this also falls on the construction of the team is the Penguins lack of identity over the last year.
Last season one month they wanted to be a skilled/dynamic team, next month they wanted to be a gritty team. This season no identity has emerged and part of that falls on a disconnect throughout from management to the coach to the players.
Inside the Penguins room there’s a problem with one side of the room believing the Penguins need to play a certain way and the other side of the room wanting to play another way. Finding a way to create an identity is going to be Sullivan’s biggest challenge and an area he knows the Penguins have to develop.
“I talked to them about creating an identity as a group,” Sullivan said. “I challenged them to embrace the process. We have to embrace the struggle here. No secret Pittsburgh Penguins are built by speed and skill.” On What Sullivan is looking for the Penguins to evolve into — “Team that is difficult to play against. Team that doesn’t defeat itself. Lots that go into an identity aside from style of play,” Sullivan said.
“What I’m going to try to do with this group is define a team game, play the right way….. Unwavering commitment to the process,” Sullivan said.
PRACTICE NOTES, BUZZ ON POULIOT
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Sullivan opened up practice today with a 3-on-3 drill down low and the bulk of practice had a lot of focus on breaking the puck out. Sullivan doesn’t have a good feel of this group yet but knows where the obvious flaws are.
“It’s an important aspect of being a good team,” Sullivan said of breaking the puck out clean. “Important to come out of your own end as clean as you can. Certainly there’s a reason we worked on coming out of our end zone today. That will be point of emphasis.”
Sullivan was asked about Derrick Pouliot by Jim Colony of 937 The Fan and at this point the organization has no immediate plans of calling Pouliot up. Sullivan, though, had high praise for Pouliot and feels young defensemen developing in the AHL is great for them as it’s a tougher league to play in for d-men.
“Derrick’s been a big part of the team success down there to this point,” Sullivan said. “Most nights he plays against American League’s top players, running power play. American league is a great development [league]. “Might be a more difficult league to play in for defensemen. I think that the experience he is going through, the investment in his career is worth it. I don’t look at it as a negative that he didn’t make the Pittsburgh Penguins out of training camp. He’s going through a process that in my mind is well worth it.”
— The Penguins did not make any line changes. [/hide]
its pretty hilarious that the steelers just stomped the bengals and there is no article yet had they lose, an article would’ve been up a while ago
It’s in instant buzz. Most of D’s articles are instant buzz
Because there is not one good writer on this site. They all wait to bltch and complain and talk about what they would have done in hindsight in an attempt to come across as experts. I did the same thing in school when i didnt know what the F i was talking about but needed to meet the word count.
Angry Drunk Uncle Stanchy sippin the Sunday sauce today
Walluk, very true!!! Someone should look into that
Pens still haven’t won a game since MJ was fired. Fire sullivan!
It amazes me how these players celebrate after plays. Mike Mitchell hits a defenseless receiver that just caught a long pass and he gets up and celebrates. William Gay actually makes a nice play and he celebrates for 45 seconds. Herm Edwards hit the nail on the head. The players put themselves and their egos before the team in this generation.
Why I stopped watching football years ago…that is all I will say without sounding racist.
Brandon Dubinsky.
its going to suck so bad
the pens aren’t going to make the playoffs for the next 10 seasons.
How much do you want to bet?
i told you at the beginning of the year they weren’t making the playoffs and right now they are in 9th. who’s right so far? certainly not you.
I made no such prognostication in either direction. So I’m right either way. I’m definitely predicting they’ll make the playoffs in the next ten years though. Wanna say $1,000? Can you get a loan for that much?
i don’t bet 8th graders without their parents permission. have your mom and dad write a note. if they say it’s okay i’ll mail you a pack of hockey cards if they make the playoffs.
That’s a nice way of saying you don’t even believe the nonsense you say. Hyperbole is fun though. You wouldn’t pay anyway. Just like last time. Because you’re a flaming bitch.
you didn’t deny being in 8th grade. my suspicions have been confirmed.
Yeah. Right. Maybe you nailed it. Hey. There’s a first time for everything. How embarrassing would it be for you to then quite obviously be dumber than an eighth grader?
The new coach doesn’t change the fact that the defense sucks, Crosby wants traded, and the organization cares more about selling a product than winning.
The new coach doesn’t change the fact you still know less than shit
who was the one who said they weren’t making the playoffs this year and what place are they in now???????
What does one have to do with the other? A week ago you were wrong. And wrong for the entire season until then. Amazingly, not a peep out of you. I feel bad for your family members. They must be so embarrassed.
Society feels sorry for you as a whole. Maybe
One point out of the Wild card with 2 games to make up on the team currently there. Now that they will start playing the game the way that suits the make up of the roster its very likely that they get back to that spot. Such a fucking idiot
Back to the Crosby wanting out rumours hey you retard. Last time he wanted out he signed a 12 year deal lol
This guy haven’t even coached , game yet and got 3 years contract already
Did same said this team was missing identity
Same said Johnston would be better than DB because Johnston was Canadian. Same is retarded (and fat)
Will be interesting to see how the superstars handle the attitude era
I think we know how Sid will handle it. Like the bitch he’s been for years.
They’d have been better off hiring Kevin Sullivan.
ADUS