In what hopefully was going to be a much different and better season for the Pittsburgh Penguins looks like the same old Penguins of the last two years. After 11 games this season, the Penguins are last in the Metropolitan Division with seven points. They also possess a 3-7-1 record. It is still very early in the season as it is standings after 82 games that matters. However, the same issues from the last two seasons remain evident. Maybe the Penguins coach will take the fall.
First Line Struggling
The first line is supposed to generate the most offence as it is your top line. The Penguins have never had this issue as long as Sidney Crosby has been healthy and playing. However, Crosby has been pointless the last two games and still searching for his first even strength goal. However, Crosby finally snapped out of that streak logging three assists in the loss against the Minnesota Wild.
Alongside Crosby, veteran forward Bryan Rust is also struggling this season. He is also searching for his first even strength goal this season. It is unknown why they are struggling as they get the shots and opportunities and their expected goals are high especially Rust’s, but they just cannot put the puck in the back of the net.
Maybe, the reason for said struggles, is due to the Penguins have failed to replace an elite goal scorer such as Jake Guentzel opposite of Crosby. So far this season, the Penguins have tried Anthony Beauvillier, Rickard Rakell, and Michael Bunting on the top line with Rust and Crosby and none have worked.
Lack of Effort Perhaps Falls On Penguins Coach
Pittsburgh recently just completed a Western Canada road trip going 0-3-1 with regulation losses to the Winnipeg Jets, Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers, and a shootout loss to the Calgary Flames. The Penguins were blanked 4-0 in the Oilers game where they were just completely outplayed in every way fashion and the Jets game was ugly also as they lost 6-3.
However, the Flames and Canucks games were just flat out embarrassing and should have been wins. The Penguins should have left western Canada with four points instead of one. In the Flames game, the Penguins blew a third period lead not once but twice, which the Penguins have struggled with many times last season. Also, during the Canucks game, they were up 2-0 and then proceed to allow three goals in just a 1:05 and ended up losing 4-3.
Players & Staff’s Take on Lack of Effort
After the Oilers loss, head coach Mike Sullivan was irate and talked about his teams effort.
“It’s concerning because we’re just not good enough right now,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said late Friday night. “We didn’t play hard enough. We didn’t play together as a group.” Sullivan also mentioned they were not good enough.
When a head coach talks about effort and playing together as a group that generally more often than not falls on coaching rather than the players.
Crosby after the Canucks game was also displeased.
“We’ve got to find a way to not to allow momentum or chances to add up and pile up and make that the difference in the game, because we’re working too hard to generate other chances to do good things to give it away like that. We just can’t chase a mistake with another one. There’s got to be a certain awareness when we do give up one. We’ve got to follow it up with a good shift or at least get the momentum back and try to counter that.”
Abysmal Defence
The Penguins defence has also been an issue and the reason why they are as bad as they are. They have allowed the most goals in the league at 42 and are the third worst in the league in goals allowed per game at 4.20.
Struggles in Western Canada Continue
The Penguins the last three years or so have struggled mightily in western Canada. All-time, they have losing records in Calgary and Vancouver.
Penguins Head Coach Mike Sullivan Needs To Go
Simply put for all of the reasons listed above and then some, Sullivan needs to get fired. He has constantly over managed, not trusted the younger guys, and seems to have lost the locker room. He has overstayed his welcome. Penguins fans will appreciate the two Stanley Cups and everything he has done for this franchise and the city. However, it is time to bring in somebody new and go in a different direction.
Once again, the Penguins blew a 2-0 lead as they lost 5-3 to the Wild Tuesday night. The Penguins continue to blow leads which should lead to Sullivan getting fired.
If the Penguins do decide to fire coach Sullivan, they will need to find a replacement.
Todd McClellan
Todd McClellan would certainly be an interesting option as he spent 16 seasons in the NHL as a head coach all with teams in the Pacific Division (San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings). He has a career record of 598-412-134. Working with superstars such as Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson would be no issue for him as he has coached Joe Thornton, Connor McDavid, and Anze Kopitar.
Gerard Gallant
Gerard Gallant is another highly respected head coach across the league. In the Vegas Golden Knights inaugural season, he took them to the Stanley Cup Finals. After Vegas, Gallant took the New York Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals. The former Jack Adams Award winner has a career coaching record of 369-262-4.
David Quinn
One option to remain in-house whether as an interim or permanent is assistant coach David Quinn. Quinn was brought in to be the power play coach and defenceman coach. The Penguins powerplay is much improved at 20.7% which places them 13th in the league. He is also friends with Sullivan as the two are also going to coach together at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. This could be an interesting option if owner Mario Lemieux and Fenway Sports Group want some familiarity.
Speaking of familiarity, Quinn coached Karlsson with the Sharks when he had his career high 101 point season. That is probably Quinn’s only solid accomplishment as a head coach as he has a career record of 137-185-50.
What About Jay Woodcroft as the Penguins Next Head Coach?
Lastly, another candidate is none other than Jay Woodcroft. Woodcroft recently coached with the Edmonton Oilers before being fired in November 2023. He has a career coaching record of 79-41-13. If Woodcroft is hired and succeeds, he can be coaching for awhile as he is just 48 years old.
Main Photo Credit: Sergei Belski – USA TODAY Sports
