Madden Monday on Mike Sullivan: 'His situation would have gotten any coach in any sport in history fired by now'
On Saturday night, the Penguins blew a 3-0 lead to one of the worst teams in the NHL, the San Jose Sharks (5-10-4, 14 points).
Fortunately, though, the Penguins ended up winning 4-3 in a shootout. By their standards in 2024, for these Penguins, that's a pretty good night.
What can I say? The bar is low for this franchise. At 7-10-3 (17 points), any victory that results in two points for coach Mike Sullivan's club is cause for celebration.
However, during this week's "Madden Monday" podcast , Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLive says the Penguins shouldn't accept such mediocrity.
"Had they lost to San Jose, I don't know how you could not have fired Sullivan," Madden said.
Agreed. Frankly, I would've fired Sullivan after the first-round loss at the hands of the New York Islanders in 2021. But based on what has always been unyielding support from general manager Kyle Dubas and Fenway Sports Group, is that prospect even being discussed?
"I don't think they're actively talking about it. But I've been told that, behind the scenes, they're saying, kind of, 'Oh, boy,' if you know what I mean," Madden said. "But I think they realize that this situation would have gotten any coach in any sport in history fired by now."
It's not just about this year. The Penguins missed the playoffs each of the last two seasons and haven't won a playoff series since 2018.
"Just look at the situation. (Firing the coach) is what has always happened everywhere else, including here," Madden said. "They just blew a 3-0 lead to the worst team in hockey. It was kind of weird, too, in the dressing room postgame. They were acting like they lost because they knew — especially after that debacle in Columbus on Friday night. Columbus is really bad too, and they beat the bejesus out of the Penguins.'
Madden was referring to the Pens' 6-2 loss to the Blue Jackets (6-9-2, 14 points) on Friday. He thinks it is time for the Penguins to go with a youth movement around the core veterans (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang) the team has pledged to keep in town.
"(Owen) Pickering and Vasily Ponomarev — those two should stay in (the lineup) indefinitely. (Sam) Poulin should stay in indefinitely," Madden insisted. "I look at that roster, and you've got guys on their third NHL team, their fourth NHL team, their fifth NHL team. They're not invested. They just want to get paid. And if they stop getting paid there, they'll find someplace else. Guys like Poulin, Ponomarev and Pickering — they want to be Penguins. They are invested. They're enthusiastic. And that might not last forever, but it's there now. So stick with it. It might not do enough, but I like it."
It's Madden's view that it's time to start admitting that the Penguins are in the middle of a rebuild instead of constantly trying to split the difference between that tact and half-heartedly attempting to compete now.
"Kyle Dubas needs to do what Barry Trotz did in Nashville and openly talk about rebuilding," Madden said. "He needs to commit to it in front of everybody to see how the fans react, to see how ownership reacts, to see how the dressing room reacts, to see how Crosby reacts. I think it has to be done. They have to make it clear that that's the direction they're headed in and not pussyfoot around it anymore."
