Penguins fire Mike Johnston; Sullivan takes over

Pittsburgh hosts Washington on Monday night.

Sullivan, a Marshfield native, had been in his first year coaching the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate, which is off to an 18-5 start. Most nights, he plays against the American League’s top players.

“We have the majority of our division games ahead of us”. The season can still be salvaged and I for one support Rutherford in moving on when he knew he had to.

“I hope that resonates with the players and I can inspire these guys to play a certain way”.

“I’m honored to have the privilege to coach this group and I have a ton of respect for their abilities”, Sullivan said. “We’ll speak towards that”.

How could you not like them? “We have to embrace the process”. Good luck and welcome back to the big show, Mike Sullivan!

The difference between Sullivan’s practice and those under Johnston was considerable.

Sullivan showcases a more up-tempo style than his predecessor. Cox noted Johnston’s success in the WHL and the fact that he owns a home in Vancouver as reasons why there’s potential for a marriage here. Earlier in the week, I put people on notice, and I shouldn’t have to do that all the time…. I will encourage guys to take ownership for what’s going on. “I believe it’s their team, not mine”.

So rather than continuing to hammer the square peg he hired into the circular hole the Penguins continued to dig deeper and deeper – and let’s all recall Johnston was the consolation prize when Willie Desjardins passed on the gig – Rutherford swallowed his pride and admitted a mistake he’s made as Pittsburgh transitional GM.

“It’s not easy to score goals in this league but certainly our power play should be a lot better, which should win more games for us”, Rutherford said. Sullivan doesn’t expect the defense to suffer under his leadership.

The move coming off a very long start to the year in Pittsburgh where superstars Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel seem to be at a loss on the ice. Mike Sullivan named new Head Coach of the Penguins.

“We’re not far from the top of the division, but we’re not far from the bottom either”. I think part of an identity is a mindset. You need to beat those teams. It’s a team that doesn’t defeat itself by a lack of discipline, a lack of structure or a lack of commitment. He’s someone that was, you know, so fair with everyone. But the change gives the Penguins a needed shakeup. “We’re going to establish an identity that’s clear”.

The previous time Pittsburgh replaced a coach in the middle of the season, Bylsma led the franchise to its third Stanley Cup in 2009. The other 12 were fumbled, turned into chips or just flat-out turned over to a NY team that settled into a defensive shell in the game’s final frame.