Devils have other priorities that a LHD. Leafs have no interest in a 5.3m goalie with term. Leafs are confident Woll, and a cheaper UFA will be the goalies next season. Hildeby could even see action in 24/25. Jarnkrok is a bargain at 2.1, Kampf is needed at centre next year, and so will be the first at some time hopefully.

I disagree with your take on Sullivan. He should stay. However, Reirden should’ve been fire months ago. The question becomes, Is Reirden still employed because of Sullivan or Dubas? Likely the former, which would be an indictment on Sully. With that said, I don’t think moving on from Sullivan is the answer. Nor do I think most of your moves here are the answer at all. Just my humble opinion.

Sullivan is the head coach. He is 100% responsible for delegating the PP duties. There is zero justification for Sullivan still having a job as the PP is so bad that is the ONLY reason they aren't in a WC spot.

I’m aware, hence the “Likely the former, which would be an indictment on Sully.” I’m by no means saying he isn’t ultimately to blame for the PP. He is the head coach above all and shoulders responsibility.

Who is to say that we’d even be close to a wild card spot under another HC’s leadership and system? This old roster isn’t exactly easy to devise a system for that works through their non-physical game and middle of the pack speed, while putting them in the position to compete against the high flying, puck carrying, young teams. Other than the PP, I think Sully has done a good job at doing that. The PP should 100% be fixed by now, but I think, out of frustration, people aren’t realizing that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Other than the PP, this team has performed well as a unit given the age and level of personnel on the roster. Even with Dubas’ cleaning up of Hextall’s malpractices, this roster still leaves a lot to be desired. I think Sullivan has more to do with this team being close than people give him credit for.

If Sullivan is let go in the off-season, then I wouldn’t be surprised. I wouldn’t necessarily be angry about it either. I personally just don’t think it’s the answer. A fresh and young guy, with a new aged mindset, should be brought in to run the PP. Should’ve been brought in months ago.

What even is this

I really can't decide on if he should go or not personally. It's just a shame because even though I don't necessarily like their style of play, they're actually a pretty good 5v5 team - definitely playoff caliber. And I do think Sully is getting close to the best out of the team at 5v5.

But they are just absolutely costed by the PP. They'd be fighting for 2nd place with an average PP. I don't know how much Sullivan has his hands in the PP(pause), but even if he's not in charge(which he should be), not firing whoever is running it or demanding any changes definitely falls on him

Yes the PP has been horrendous, but look at how ridiculously overachieving the goaltending has been and that is a counter balance to the horrible PP stats. The real problem here is ironically the one move where I was getting blasted here, the EK trade upset the PP in particular and the balance of the team. Now that Letang is not the main point man, it has clearly caused issues. I’m not saying the PP has been great before because it’s been a problem before this year and EK was brought in to fix it. However, I think that move was a rather bad one and we lost a 1st rounder we could desperately use in the meantime.

Recreating the long failed bottom six and being realistic that the team is too old.

Really depends on where our 1st is on the Pettersson trade

The goaltending has obviously been amazing - but you know me - we've had this conversation before haha. I think this is just how good Jarry is. Ned has definitely outplayed expectations though - at least for me. I'm not sure I would say the goaltending counteracts the terrible PP. Although it probably does counter balance their terrible finishing at 5v5 for the most part.

There's nothing stopping them from making Letang the point man though - so that it still falls on coaching. I didn't think EK for Letang would actually make the PP any better either - at least not the top unit - Letang has always been a great point man on the PP. I'm not sure I can blame the PP being THIS bad just on the Karlsson swap though. If you're talking about the EK trade overall, I will still have to disagree there though, it was a good trade. I can't see this team being any better with the players they gave up vs the players they got - and certainly not the PP. Which is their biggest issue. But I understand your complaint is giving up the 1st - still think it was a good trade overall. If the Pens just went out and signed EK as a FA for 10mil, then I would absolutely agree with you that it was a bad move

I still think Granlund should have been bought out back in June. Then we could have found a place to offload Rutta, which is hardly the toughest dump to do. Petry could have stayed for this season and I think we’d be right where we are and still have that first.

I was onboard with the Granlund buyout too. I don't think Rutta would've been that easy to send somewhere though - probably adding a mid round pick. We might be in the same spot, probably would be worse. But nobody could've predicted the Pens PP being absolutely horrendous. A league average PP and they're right with CAR for 2nd in the Metro and we aren't even having this conversation haha.

I do think there were other avenues they could've taken in the offseason instead of the EK trade like you mentioned - Granlund buyout, Rutta dump, etc. I just don't think the EK trade was bad by any means - or is responsible for the position they're in. It's obvious this team with this roster could've still been solidly in the playoffs this year - I have no issues losing the first to try and compete this year instead of basically throwing in the towel on the core. But I know you think otherwise - and that they should've just started a rebuild. Which I understand - I just don't necessarily agree with. But to each their own. I think the bigger issue than the trade is how poor Smith/Graves have been for making 9mil