Rick Tocchet and Mike Sullivan (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/cb326450-3d7b-40f6-b042-4929574e55f2.jpeg] Rick Tocchet and Mike Sullivan (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images) The Pittsburgh Penguins opened up a particularly appealing job after parting with coach Mike Sullivan on Monday. After all, who wouldn’t want to be behind the bench coaching icon Sidney Crosby? In any case, Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/breaking-penguins-and-head-coach-mike-sullivan-mutually-parting-ways] GM Kyle Dubas has three distinct roads to move forward on as the team’s transitional period continues [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/the-pittsburgh-penguins-parting-with-mike-sullivan-is-the-best-thing-for-them] following its third straight playoff miss. The coaching choice Dubas makes will dictate the competitive road he chooses. Emma Lingan and Michael Augello react to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Mike Sullivan parting ways. With that in mind, here are three potential paths for the Penguins [http://thn.com/pittsburgh] to take – and three potential coaches for each of those roads. PATH 1: RETURN THE PENGUINS TO THE PLAYOFFS AND STANLEY CUP CONTENTION ASAP “You can hope in one hand and s— in the other, and see which one fills up first,” Dubas said [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/penguins-gm-has-strong-words-for-karlsson-and-the-rebuilding-route-you-can-hope-in-one-hand-and-s-in-the-other] to reporters at the end-of-season press conference, seemingly shooting down the notion of a long and full rebuild. That would almost certainly mean the Penguins will be aiming for a retool this summer. It could also mean the next coach will have lots of experience and be highly demanding, focusing on wins over learning and developing. Dubas’ options for a veteran bench boss include Rick Tocchet [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/with-rick-tocchet-out-in-vancouver-is-a-penguins-reunion-on-the-horizon], John Tortorella and Peter Laviolette. Tocchet parted with the Vancouver Canucks [http://thn.com/vancouver] on Tuesday and is now a free agent. Tortorella, meanwhile, was fired by the Philadelphia Flyers [http://thn.com/philadelphia], and the New York Rangers [http://thn.com/nyrangers] fired Laviolette. They are still widely respected coaches with a track record of success, and their pedigree could be appealing for Dubas as he tries to get his team back in the playoff mix right away. The Pittsburgh Penguins Parting With Mike Sullivan Is The Best Thing For Them [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/0af42bc7-fdee-427d-b6f2-18a28595fe87.jpeg] The Pittsburgh Penguins Parting With Mike Sullivan Is The Best Thing For Them The Pittsburgh Penguins kind of, sort of, tried it Mike Sullivan's way. Not only were they not good enough to contend for a Stanley Cup, but they weren't good enough to contend for a playoff spot. [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/the-pittsburgh-penguins-parting-with-mike-sullivan-is-the-best-thing-for-them] PATH 2: KEEP PITTSBURGH COMPETITIVE DURING A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD In his press conference announcing the end of Sullivan’s tenure, Dubas talked about a period of transition [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/i-started-to-think-that-it-may-just-be-time-takeaways-from-dubass-press-conference-regarding-departure-of-mike-sullivan], which suggests perhaps choosing a coach with either experience as an assistant or head coach. While Sullivan previously coached the Boston Bruins, he spent years as an assistant coach and AHL coach before getting a chance as an NHL bench boss again in Pittsburgh. That could lead to the Penguins taking a chance on someone whose name may not immediately jump out as a front-runner, and who could currently be working on a team [https://nhlcoaches.com/nhl-coaches/] still in this year’s playoffs. For instance, current Toronto Maple Leafs [http://thn.com/toronto] associate coach Lane Lambert has experience running a team from his time with the New York Islanders [http://thn.com/nyislanders]. This year, Lambert has had success running Toronto’s penalty kill [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/i-think-we-know-the-plan-maple-leafs-penalty-kill-soars-to-sixth-best-in-nhl-under-associate-coach-lane-lambert#:~:text=6%2C%202024%C2%B7Partner-,'I%20Think%20We%20Know%20The%20Plan'%3A%20Maple%20Leafs',Under%20Associate%20Coach%20Lane%20Lambert&text=The%20Leafs%20went%20a%20perfect,against%20the%20Bruins%20on%20Tuesday.]. Current Washington Capitals [http://thn.com/washington] assistant coach Mitch Love has also been speculated to be in the running for multiple NHL jobs [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/who-should-be-the-flyers-next-coach-four-potential-first-timers]. And longtime Carolina Hurricanes [http://thn.com/carolina] assistant coach Jeff Daniels has had great success with the team, including a Cup championship in 2006. Any of those three choices could step in for Pittsburgh and get them through this transitional stage. PATH 3: FOCUS ON DEVELOPING THE PENGUINS’ YOUNGER PLAYERS AND NEXT CORE Dubas may ultimately decide the Penguins should be focused on teaching the team’s youngsters and grooming the incoming core of the organization [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/8-possible-replacements-for-mike-sullivan-as-penguins-head-coach]. There are numerous options out there if that’s the approach Dubas and the franchise want to take. For example, current University of Denver [https://thehockeynews.com/ncaa] coach David Carle is highly regarded as a teacher who has thrived working with young players. Carle may have his pick of a number of NHL jobs, but the chance to work with Crosby while at the same time developing Pittsburgh’s prospects may be especially appealing. Elsewhere, current Boston Bruins [http://thn.com/boston] assistant coach Jay Leach worked with Sullivan at the AHL level and was part of the Penguins organization before moving on to a solid coaching career in the AHL and NHL. Veteran coach Brad Shaw, who served as the Flyers’ interim coach [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/flyers-interim-head-coach-brad-shaw-speaks-on-the-role-the-grind-what-comes-next] after Tortorella was fired, could step in for the Pens and be a teacher for the foreseeable future if the Flyers don’t make him the permanent coach. One of those three could have at least a couple of years implementing a program that’d help Dubas build a new core for the long term. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
