It sucked that they lost to the Caps last year but I thought they played pretty darn good and lost the goaltending battle.

It is frustrating to watch at times this year but sometimes it is good to go through the struggles early.
- MacPatty

I think the first 4 games of that series were pretty even and Holtby was better and the difference...the last 2 games the Caps played superior and the Pens looked a bit gassed.

It sucked that they lost to the Caps last year but I thought they played pretty darn good and lost the goaltending battle.

It is frustrating to watch at times this year but sometimes it is good to go through the struggles early.
- MacPatty

My criticism for both Sully and GMJR is that they had the blueprint (first Sully cup) for a team that would compete with many of the top teams in the league today, TBL, TOR, WPG, etc. and they completely abandoned that blueprint for whatever abomination of players the roster is today and I truly think that it was due to the 2nd cup and the style and way in which they won that. Most of the roster moves since they 2nd cup, to me, seem as though they are trying to build a team similar to that one whereas I believe they should have been aiming for the first cup.

To my eyes, its not just the pairings though, though outside top 2 leave alot to be desired most nights. The forwards arnt helping out as much as they should a lot of nights.
- MattStrat

You are right on there with the forwards. Kind of to be expected to a certain extent, just hoping they can flip the switch and play 2 way hockey come playoff time.

My criticism for both Sully and GMJR is that they had the blueprint (first Sully cup) for a team that would compete with many of the top teams in the league today, TBL, TOR, WPG, etc. and they completely abandoned that blueprint for whatever abomination of players the roster is today and I truly think that it was due to the 2nd cup and the style and way in which they won that. Most of the roster moves since they 2nd cup, to me, seem as though they are trying to build a team similar to that one whereas I believe they should have been aiming for the first cup.
- j.boyd919

Completely agree on the recent roster moves. I put the blame on JR though, not Sullivan. After hitting a bunch of home runs early, I think JR believed he had a Midas touch. The Florida trade aside, most have been awful. They made some half ass attempts to get grittier and it hasn't worked.

Maybe that's where our opinion of Sully differs. I credit him for taking a mishmash of struggling players from other teams and turning them into a winner in past years. I don't think he has had all of the roster input everyone seems to think he has.

Completely agree on the recent roster moves. I put the blame on JR though, not Sullivan. After hitting a bunch of home runs early, I think JR believed he had a Midas touch. The Florida trade aside, most have been awful. They made some half ass attempts to get grittier and it hasn't worked.

Maybe that's where our opinion of Sully differs. I credit him for taking a mishmash of struggling players from other teams and turning them into a winner in past years. I don't think he has had all of the roster input everyone seems to think he has.
- MacPatty

Sully is also responsible for keeping guys like JJ and Cullen on the ice and keeping Sprong off the ice. When it comes down to who’s scratched and who is not, that is up to the coach and that’s where I fault Sully. I believe there are better/were options and I believe he often makes poor decisions regarding who to ice.

We had so much success his first two years that we've all kind of forgotten that Sullivan was a massive failure as a coach before coming to Pittsburgh. I'm not saying he's necessarily bad, and I'd say he's for sure not the coach he was in Boston, but I think the past two seasons have proven that he's far from the elite coach we thought he was.

Really thing that gets me about Sullivan the most is the complete 180 he did from running a meritocracy and giving guys shots when he first got promoted to being a classic "he's my guy and that's it" hockey coach. Having a guy willing to come in and take PT away from guys who weren't working and take flyers on WBS guys was so refreshing.
- Victoro311

We had so much success his first two years that we've all kind of forgotten that Sullivan was a massive failure as a coach before coming to Pittsburgh. I'm not saying he's necessarily bad, and I'd say he's for sure not the coach he was in Boston, but I think the past two seasons have proven that he's far from the elite coach we thought he was.

Really thing that gets me about Sullivan the most is the complete 180 he did from running a meritocracy and giving guys shots when he first got promoted to being a classic "he's my guy and that's it" hockey coach. Having a guy willing to come in and take PT away from guys who weren't working and take flyers on WBS guys was so refreshing.
- Victoro311

It was a little different then because the guys coming up from the AHL were his guys and he was familiar with them.

It was a little different then because the guys coming up from the AHL were his guys and he was familiar with them.
- willi

This is definitely true.

It was a little different then because the guys coming up from the AHL were his guys and he was familiar with them.
- willi

Yeah I guess I just tricked myself into thinking the coach was a meritocracy guy when really it was just another version of playing favorites.

Yeah I guess I just tricked myself into thinking the coach was a meritocracy guy when really it was just another version of playing favorites.
- Victoro311

Blashill did the same thing. We thought he would give the young guys a fair shake when he took over. He ended up being Babcock 2.0 playing low event hockey and lineup decisions often were "tie goes to the veteran" and "play the right way" coach speak decisions.

Blashill did the same thing. We thought he would give the young guys a fair shake when he took over. He ended up being Babcock 2.0 playing low event hockey and lineup decisions often were "tie goes to the veteran" and "play the right way" coach speak decisions.
- Feds91Stammer

There's like one coach in the world that plays the right guys and doesn't let emotion or relationships get in the way and his name is Belichick.

Blashill did the same thing. We thought he would give the young guys a fair shake when he took over. He ended up being Babcock 2.0 playing low event hockey and lineup decisions often were "tie goes to the veteran" and "play the right way" coach speak decisions.
- Feds91Stammer

Babcock is the most overrated (frank)ing coach I've ever seen.

Babcock is the most overrated (frank)ing coach I've ever seen.
- BINGO!

I have been saying this for years.

My criticism for both Sully and GMJR is that they had the blueprint (first Sully cup) for a team that would compete with many of the top teams in the league today, TBL, TOR, WPG, etc. and they completely abandoned that blueprint for whatever abomination of players the roster is today and I truly think that it was due to the 2nd cup and the style and way in which they won that. Most of the roster moves since they 2nd cup, to me, seem as though they are trying to build a team similar to that one whereas I believe they should have been aiming for the first cup.
- j.boyd919

I will agree with everything except I’m sure you are referring to the signing of Reaves which was a no brainer by Rutherford. When you have Crosby, Malkin, Kessel you sign the one guy that Tom Wilson is scared of. The botched part is Sully. Never had the balls to use the guy.

I will agree with everything except I’m sure you are referring to the signing of Reaves which was a no brainer by Rutherford. When you have Crosby, Malkin, Kessel you sign the one guy that Tom Wilson is scared of. The botched part is Sully. Never had the balls to use the guy.
- Grinder47

Reaves was never signed...

Your argument is invalid.

pretty excited to see Bjugstad with Sid.

Reaves was never signed...

Your argument is invalid.
- Feds91Stammer

Traded for the first round pick. My argument has been proven through Gerard Gallant.

There's like one coach in the world that plays the right guys and doesn't let emotion or relationships get in the way and his name is Belichick.
- 668710

And his deciple Nick Saban.

Seriously with how uber successful those dudes have been I don’t get how more people haven’t emulated that mentality. The dude wanted to trade Tom (frank)ing Brady last year because he thought Jimmy G would extend the window and Kraft had to step in. Name one other coach that would have the balls to do that.

Traded for the first round pick. My argument has been proven through Gerard Gallant.
- Grinder47

By scratching a perennial 20 goal scorer?

pretty excited to see Bjugstad with Sid.
- Grinder47

I think they’ll play well together but that Bjugstad is more needed at center right now. Cullen doesn’t have the legs to play above the fourth line anymore and there is no reason to believe McCann is effective right now.

I think they’ll play well together but that Bjugstad is more needed at center right now. Cullen doesn’t have the legs to play above the AHL anymore and there is no reason to believe McCann is effective right now.
- Victoro311

ftfy

By scratching a perennial 20 goal scorer?
- Feds91Stammer

Yes. Toto or Tartar or whatever his name is right?

I think they’ll play well together but that Bjugstad is more needed at center right now. Cullen doesn’t have the legs to play above the fourth line anymore and there is no reason to believe McCann is effective right now.
- Victoro311

10 bucks Cullen doesn’t stay there for long this evening.

Yes. Toto or Tartar or whatever his name is right?
- Grinder47

Yeah that worked out well for them...

Yeah that worked out well for them...
- Feds91Stammer

Just out of curiosity was Toto selected in the expansion draft?