Is Mike Sullivan Too Much of a Hockey Purist for the Penguins Good?
As I was pondering our Penguins in the wake of my latest rant over loading up on undersized defensemen, a thought popped into my head regarding long-time coach Mike Sullivan.
Is he too much of a hockey purist for the good of the team?
It’s no secret what type of hockey Sullivan prefers. Fast, clean, gritty and straightforward. Not unlike the brand of hockey he played at Boston University and later during his 11-year NHL career.
“Old-time hockey,” to lift a line from Slap Shot.
“Playing the right way,” as Sully’s so fond of saying.
No room for extracurriculars and/or overly aggressive play. Wholly admirable in a way.
Perhaps in a perfect world the way the sport is meant to be played.
As we all know, this isn’t a perfect world. In real life, hockey packs a decidedly harder, edgier punch. In the process, often straying over the line of decorum and good taste. Especially come the postseason.
Fully recognizing the need for at least some level of aggression and pushback, former general manager Jim Rutherford tried for a time to reinforce the black-and-gold with a physical presence.