Penguins/NHL category, Page 26
NHL analysts react to Mike Sullivan’s departure from Penguins, his future, potential replacements
The end of an era is upon the Pittsburgh Penguins, as the team announced a mutual parting of ways with two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach Mike Sullivan on Monday afternoon. Behind the bench in Pittsburgh since December 2015, Sullivan’s 409 wins with the Penguins are a franchise record (Dan Bylsma is...
A timeline for Mike Sullivan’s tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins and coach Mike Sullivan parted ways Monday. Here’s a look at Sullivan’s tenure with the team: June 18, 2015: Mike Sullivan is hired as head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Dec. 12, 2015: Sullivan replaces Mike Johnston as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. June 12, 2016:...
Tim Benz: For Penguins, ‘moving forward’ with Mike Sullivan would’ve meant staying stagnant
To use one of Mike Sullivan’s favorite verbal crutches, he and the Penguins will both be “moving forward.” They just won’t be doing so together. That’s the right decision. Frankly, it’s overdue. Kyle Dubas, the Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager, announced Monday that Sullivan and the team...
Who could the Penguins consider to replace Mike Sullivan as head coach?
The Pittsburgh Penguins franchise has not been in this position for 10 years. Even then, having a coach with Mike Sullivan’s NHL experience on the bench made him a slam-dunk hire to lead the Penguins, who promoted him from the club’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton affiliate. Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas...
Penguins part ways with coach Mike Sullivan
Ten days earlier, Mike Sullivan stood at the lectern in the cramped media room at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry and offered a terse but direct response when asked about his future. “My intentions are to be the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins,” Sullivan said April 18,...
Penguins A to Z: Is Tristan Broz ready to become a No. 2 center?Video
With the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the offseason for a third consecutive year without a playoff appearance, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 55 individuals signed to an NHL contract – including those whose deals do not begin until future seasons — with the organization....
Tim Benz: Ava Leroux, daughter of former Penguins enforcer, continues inspiring recovery at Robert Morris
Robert Morris women’s basketball coach Chandler McCabe admits she has a bit of a hang-up when it comes to recruiting. “I’ve never really recruited height, because I’m really tall, and I really hated contact,” the 6-foot-3 McCabe said with a laugh. “My nose got broken three times. I was a...
Penguins forward Joona Koppanen added to Finland’s roster for EHT TourVideo
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Joona Koppanen was added to Finland’s roster for the upcoming Euro Hockey Tour (EHT) which will be played in Czechia beginning on Thursday. The Finnish Ice Hockey Association announced Koppanen’s addition via a release on Sunday. A left-handed shot, the 27-year-old Koppanen appeared in 11 NHL contests...
Penguins forward Danton Heinen: ‘I know I can be a lot better’Video
The puck bounced perfectly for Danton Heinen. In the Pittsburgh Penguins’ regular-season finale April 17, the winger was killing a penalty when Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin blindly fired a wrister from the left point of the offensive zone. Heinen was applying pressure and partially blocked the puck, which wound...
Minor league report: Nailers eliminated by AdmiralsVideo
The Wheeling Nailers’ season came to an end with a 5-2 loss to the Norfolk Admirals in Game 5 of a North Division semifinal series at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling. Norfolk won the best-of-seven series, 4-1. Goaltender Taylor Gauthier made 21 saves on 24 shots in the defeat. Forwards Jack...
Penguins A to Z: Despite mixed results, Joel Blomqvist remains part of the futureVideo
With the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the offseason for a third consecutive year without a playoff appearance, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 55 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until future seasons — with the organization....
Penguins prospect Rutger McGroarty made tangible strides in 1st pro seasonVideo
Late last October, from the outside looking in, Rutger McGroarty appeared to be struggling in his first professional hockey season. McGroarty had joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in August after general manager Kyle Dubas swung a blockbuster trade of former first-round prospects, shipping winger Brayden Yager to the Winnipeg Jets for...
Minor league report: Penguins’ season ends with Game 2 lossVideo
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins’ season came to an end with a 3-2 loss to the rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Game 2 of an Atlantic Division first-round playoff series at the PPL Center in Allentown on Friday. Lehigh Valley swept the best-of-three series. Forward Tristan Broz had a goal and an...
Penguins A to Z: Emil Bemstrom’s AHL success hasn’t carried over to the NHLVideo
With the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the offseason for a third consecutive year without a playoff appearance, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 55 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until future seasons — with the organization....
Penguins defenseman Ryan Graves understands his future is uncertain
In one respect, Ryan Graves’ second season with the Pittsburgh Penguins was far better than his first. He finished the second season. A concussion sidelined him for the final stretch of a messy 2023-24 when he failed to live up to the expectations commensurate with the massive contract he signed...
Penguins forward prospect Tanner Howe out 9 months following knee surgery
Pittsburgh Penguins forward prospect Tanner Howe underwent ACL reconstruction surgery on his right knee on Wednesday. The expected recovery time is nine months. His status was announced by the team on Thursday. Howe, 19, was a second-round draft pick (No. 46 overall) in 2024. Splitting the 2024-25 season with the...
First Call: Packers reportedly show interest in George Pickens; Penguins may have path to trade Erik Karlsson
The Pittsburgh Steelers may be shopping George Pickens as a trade chip more actively than they are letting on. One ex-Steeler is blasting the idea of selecting Shedeur Sanders. Todd McShay isn’t sure the Steelers will take him if he is there at No. 21 anyway. And the Penguins may...
Penguins A to Z: Isaac Belliveau needs to take a bigger step forwardVideo
With the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the offseason for a third consecutive year without a playoff appearance, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 55 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until future seasons — with the organization....
Part of Penguins’ youth movement, Vasily Ponomarev pleased with 1st full season in organization
Vasily Ponomarev does not immediately come to mind as the person best positioned to offer a diagnosis on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2024-25 campaign, which recently ended short of the playoffs for the third straight season. Coach Mike Sullivan or one of the player mainstays who spent most, if not the...
U mad, bro?: Aaron Rodgers agitation, putrid Pirates offense fill venomous pre-draft void
By this time next week, everyone will be mad about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2025 draft class. If they take Shedeur Sanders, then they should’ve taken Jaxson Dart. If they take Jaxson Dart, then they should’ve taken a defensive lineman. If they take a defensive lineman, then you can bet that...
Minor league report: Penguins goaltender Joel Blomqvist injured in Game 1 lossVideo
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins goaltender Joel Blomqvist suffered an undisclosed injury during a 5-2 loss to the rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Game 1 of an Atlantic Division first-round playoff series at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. Per Inside AHL Hockey, Penguins coach Kirk MacDonald indicated Blomqvist “tweaked something” and...
Penguins prospect Sam Poulin enjoys a career season with Wilkes-Barre/ScrantonVideo
Just visually, it was impressive. And when the heights and weights were accounted for, it only amplified the display. During the Pittsburgh Penguins’ regular-season finale, a 5-2 home win against the rival Washington Capitals on Thursday, Penguins forward Sam Poulin made an impact. At 5 minutes, 49 seconds of the...
Penguins A to Z: Raivis Ansons’ development stalled outVideo
With the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the offseason for a third consecutive year without a playoff appearance, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 55 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until future seasons — with the organization....
Penguins assistant Mike Vellucci named to U.S. staff for IIHF tournament
Pittsburgh Penguins assistant coach Mike Vellucci has been named to an identical position with the United States Men’s National Team for the upcoming International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) World Championship tournament. USA Hockey announced Vellucci’s appointment along with other assistant coaches in a release on Tuesday. A native of Northville,...
Tim Benz: Kyle Dubas must heed his own warning about having ‘hope in 1 hand’
During his season-ending press conference Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas busted out a tried-and-true, grandpappy-approved cliche to describe the big-picture view of attempting to improve a franchise. “You can hope in one hand and (defecate) in the other and see which one fills up first,” Dubas said. Well,...
