Mike Sullivan on coaching Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin | 31 Thoughts

For the past five he’s led a team with two of the greatest players in league history, winning two Stanley Cups and working with a roster regularly in flux due to injuries and personnel changes.
Sullivan sits down with Jeff and Elliotte to discuss what makes Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin so great, how they embrace the challenge of stepping up their games when the other is sidelined, keeping his players motivated, how his coaching style has changed over the years and much more.
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[@nathanmcdonald8891]

What a great coach! Gonna be awesome to see him finally get his Jack Adams award that he’s deserved multiple times over the past three season

[@ericbrewerguitar1499]

Sully is a boss. How bout giving this man the Jack Adams already? Two Stanley Cups, not to mention what he’s done with the team this year through all the heinous injuries.

[@thatsright4194]

They should ask him about losing 8 of his last 10

[@ericbrewerguitar1499]

that's right I say that has more do to with goaltending not being as strong as it was earlier the in the season. Still, 2 Stanley Cups in 4 years is a lot more than you’ll ever come close to doing so I think he’s alright bud 😂

[@peachrex8552]

Eric Brewer Guitar hellyea

[@oigloriousoi]

@@thatsright4194 what about it? They hadn't lost more than 2 in a row before that all year. And because they have been so good, they were able to lose 8 and still be in the top 7 in points.

[@maryconn1]

He should have 3 but the pens got screwed in game 2 in 2018 against Washington. That puck was clearly over the line. 2018 was our best team.

[@d0pp3lgang3r]

"let me tell you this not so you can understand, but so you can not misunderstand."

[@jordanmokricky8328]

Best coach in the NHL in the past 4 years.

[@Hunter-fd3eg]

and +2 years he’s still on top and still no jack adams. this is a sham

[@chrisgilligan4968]

This is what you want from a coach. Such a thoughtful well spoken person....I hadn't ever heard Sully get interviewed in depth like this before...I'm not a Pens fan, but much respect for him.

[@devinluoto873]

Geno is definitely a GENERATIONAL TALENT TOO!!!

[@samuelgustafsson2322]

Devin Luoto nah he’s just 14th all time in ppg, he’s average!!!

[@mike-mz6yz]

@@samuelgustafsson2322 idk I looked up this cool list of the best 100 players in nhl history, created by the greatest minds in hockey, and geno didn't make the list. So obviously he isn't generational...good contributor though.

[@samuelgustafsson2322]

mike james like I said he’s average, are you stupid or what😂

[@samuelsullivan1121]

mike james he was robbed. 100% should have been on that list

[@devinluoto873]

Mike James...Your fricken Whack bro! All the analysts on NHL network said he was robbed, NBCsn all said the same. He's waaay better than Toews, Keith, even Kane. But Kane deserves to be on that list, as does Geno! Hands Down

[@uriel736]

I'll never forget Sullivans father out on the ice when they won those back to backs. His dad seemed like he was a very kind man. Pretty awesome he lived long enough to see his son coach a team to not just a cup but back to backs.

[@frankcommatobe8009]

Zucker has fit in really well

[@jorksusjorky503]

LOVE this! really. this is what i live for! thank u. More of this content and il quit my job and start watching u 24/7

[@KingMuncheez]

What’s fascinating is the undoing of a lot of coaches isn’t even lack of x’s n o’s knowledge….it’s ego. To KNOW your team and not over think is a lost art. To not take the compliments on Sid as not a diminishment of coaching skill in itself is a skill cuz many coaches would try to take Sid/Malkin n fit them in a box n take the credit for THEIR system, but to allow ur great players to be great and coach everyone AROUND THEM to play WITH them at the best of their skill set is a master class of leadership.

[@mikef2813]

Great coach.

[@jwalzer]

Great insight to coaching especially when my friend Anthony always complains about the Pens’ coaching when the message from the coaches is clear - it’s the players who decide whether or not to listen to the message. Yeeeeeaaaaahhhhh

[@AllThingsHockey4ever]

The goat 🐐

[@jemdogg3012]

Crosby is still the best in the world put him 1 on 1 against Mcdavid and Mcdavid wouldn’t get the puck, wouldn’t have to worry about “catching” Mcdavid cause Mcdavid wouldn’t get the puck from Sid, period, if you know hockey you know what I mean. His puck protection skills are the best the game has ever seen along with Datsyuk

[@terryaube6477]

I agree

[@ipittipi]

Interesting, Mike has nice voice

[@maxpowr90]

He's a Masshole. Not as bad as Torts' Boston accent but it most certainly is there.

[@86Wutang86]

Kind of reminds me of Mike Rowe

[@LordOfNothingham]

This man is very well spoken and calm and seems to be a generally nice guy. That being said I feel Fleury and Kessel were given a raw deal for the sake of money. Fleury at the very least deserved to retire as a Pittsburgh Penguin. I solely don’t blame Sullivan but he definitely had a say in Rutherford’s decision.

[@maryconn1]

He’s made some questionable decisions like benching fleury in 2017 and refusing to use Reaves in 2018 and continuing to play Murray and Johnson and Shultz and marleau in the 2020 playoffs, but he’s a great coach.

[@JFB199]

Honestly I think hes the best in the game

[@Lott.Z]

87

[@TheWesen18]

Mike has some sexy socks kappa

[@naught_]

First words of the podcast are "Mike Sulliver" ????

[@glenfrog814]

🏆🏆🏆🐧🐧🐧🐧🐧🏆🏆🏆

[@owowowiemybones]

Oh so this is before losing six straight with three of them being against the 2nd, 4th, and 5th worst teams *y i k e s*

[@Zachamundo]

Duper9 with a name like Duper 9 hopefully you realize a large part of that losing streak was due to injuries to Marino and Dumoulin which made everyone on our D outside of Letang playing a role way above their head which resulted in us being terrible in transition. Not surprising once they came back, we dominated.

[@owowowiemybones]

Dumoulin's been out for ten billion years; their first 5 without Marino were 4-0-1. But you're right, their absence perfectly explains having a whopping 3 goals on literally the easiest roadtrip of the year. Plus, getting 7 goals while giving up 3 on 26 shots against the 3rd worst team really does make me feel better. My confidence has been fully restored and I now believe in this team wholeheartedly. 2020 cup incoming. 3 in 5 i can see it !

[@Vexfer]

@@owowowiemybones lmao youre a dickhead.

[@wetalkinb0utpractice]

@@owowowiemybones L.

[@cousinpatsey2471]

Duper9 the easiest road trip of the year? They're on literally the opposite end of the continent. The travel is pretty bad, and even beyond that it's never easy playing 3 straight games against the California teams. It never has been. Yeah, they were bad for a bit. Every team is.

[@hockeymike333]

Why are you guys talking about Crosby on Mar 5 2020? Have you heard of Mcdavid and Draisaitl?

[@samuelsullivan1121]

Shut up Michael

[@potionseller3213]

Crosby >

[@Waders27]

Crosby has 3 Stanley Cups. End of discussion.

[@tromedl]

Because they talk with their coach LOL.?

[@moss5563]

Mike sullivan is a horrible coach

[@leesun9523]

Your avi is horrible lol

[@wetalkinb0utpractice]

L.

[@pensfan_traders8734]

You’re cap

[@traceyb9443]

Sully is a fantastic coach!

[@sambo7499]

One of the most overrated coached in history of nhl history! Simply lucky!

[@mikef2813]

11 months. Zero likes. Nice. Hockey much?

[@i5k-]

Damn mike Sullivan seems like a great guy and awesome coach to have, coming from a caps fan.

[@judgejimbobrowntown7600]

Good for the public but I think he’s all business when it comes to the locker room he’s good at coaching on an individual basis he knows th personally of every player and how to fire them up

[@killionaire6891]

Judge jimbo Browntown Hes also just a great guy and an awesome coach to have lmao

[@NESADDICT]

0kFu as a Pens fan we love the Rivalry! If the Caps weren’t so dang awesome it wouldn’t be half as fun. Ovie is the man, I just wish he had a Penguin on his sweater. 😉

[@austinperrucci391]

0kFu yep, except for his stubbornness for keeping Jack Johnson on the ice

[@WilliamStewart1]

@@austinperrucci391 I don't get the Johnson hate, he wasn't a bad player last year? Schultz was pretty horrible and that's who he was stuck with for most of the year. When he was stepping in for Dumo he did a pretty job keeping Tangers constant defensive mistakes less memorable. Not to mention he and Sid are great friends which is always good for moral. If the do end up signing Tanev I feel like they'll be a great pairing.

[@frankcommatobe8009]

If you look at the numbers generationally, Geno has to be in the conversation. I can’t put all the stats here, but I encourage you to watch thehockeyguy’s video on why malkin is generational.

[@mursuka80]

I am still pissed at NHL for not putting him in Top 100 players list. You are a moron if you think Kane or Toews are better than him. Toews is a joke on that list.

[@tymacdougall3140]

@@mursuka80 Lol Kane is better, toews is a way better two way guy and more clutch. I think geno shoulda been on instead of lindros. Lindros changed the game for a bit but never won a thing.

[@CJMattias]

Malkin has only one season below point per game...

[@2229lionman]

Hate the Pens but love this guy even more now after listening to him and learning of his coaching style. I would love him as coach of my favorite teams.

[@hokey8738]

@bobby ruest he's probably a craps fan

[@hokey8738]

@bobby ruest the golden kites maybe only God knows at this point

[@hokey8738]

@bobby ruest hell he might like the Winnipeg kets

[@fur10usal50]

Guy seems so balanced and real. Great coach 👍🏻

[@shinysmogon]

love u mike

[@milorocks8183]

At this point every season with hellacious injuries , Pittsburgh tends to get overlooked with those types of awards , if we want it we got to take it and awards that are voted on tend to be a popularity contest and not based on who truly deserves it especially if the deserving is working in The ‘Burgh !

[@mmmmmmm8706]

The pens may be figuring out how to play with a mostly healthy team. Wish they would have pointed that out ... Or something along those lines.

[@ChrisB10]

He's a big dude ! Guy just of been a power forward

[@sarabenaquista4352]

Literally who dressed Sully tho lol

[@georgeblair3894]

#LETSGOPENS #CUPDROUGHT

[@alexyerkey3141]

When was this filmed?

[@philkessel8162]

February 19 by the sounds of it

[@illusion9966]

reminds me of a politician...never says anything that you dont already know....ask him the HARD questions... was MAF a mistake? you came here and had a team that won B2B cups...since then..the team has been changed up and down the lineup..and you havent been close to a cup since...how much of that is on you? ...

[@rayr40]

Lmaoooo

[@judekim5951]

this may be one of the most dense comments in the internet

[@illusion9966]

@@judekim5951 stop kissing sullys ass...hes a good coach..but since he came here..personal has gotten worse...not better..we have wasted a ton of draft picks chasing guys like brass and gally..paying JJ way to much..having dopes like simon on the top line..keeping average goalie MM who clearly isnt the " next" one...JR and he sit down and build the team the way sully wants..both have said so 100 times..clearly for as good as he is at Xs and Os..he is polar opposite on talent evaluation and on who the important people in the room are...

[@Stan_Halen]

@@illusion9966 Clearly you don't know as much about the team as you think since Sullivan does not make any choices on the players that come here or not. That is solely the GM's, scouting, and development part of the franchise. Sully can only recommend, but at the end of the day he gets what GM JR wants, which HAS been said before unlike your falsely claimed 'he and JR build the team he wants". What you wrongly assumed about that statement is he tells JR players names which is wrong. He tells JR what things he needs as in perks, accolades, and tangibles while JR and scouting choose the name based on free agency and the market. If you were any more dense and clueless as to how this was run, you'd be the piece of vulcanized rubber on the ice.

[@illusion9966]

@@Stan_Halen You need to LISTEN to GMJR when he speaks....