Mark Madden's Hot Take: Bringing back Mike Sullivan is not a no-brainer for Penguins

Mike Sullivan will probably coach the Pittsburgh Penguins next season.

But there might be some debate in management’s mind. Sullivan won Stanley Cups in 2016 and ’17. But his Penguins have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for three straight seasons. Recent bias does Sullivan no favors.

GM Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke will make the Penguins bigger and heavier. Sullivan might balk at that.

But Hextall and Burke owe Sullivan nothing. Sullivan won Cups for ex-GM Jim Rutherford, not them.

If Hextall, Burke and ownership aren’t sure about Sullivan’s return, they need to decide immediately.

In 2014, the Penguins fired GM Ray Shero after the 2013-14 season concluded but waited three more weeks to dismiss coach Dan Bylsma. In the interim, the coaching pool dried up. The Penguins settled for junior coach Mike Johnston.

That didn’t go very well. Johnston only lasted 110 games.

There are currently four coaching openings in the NHL: Arizona, Columbus, the New York Rangers and expansion Seattle. There are several top candidates available, including Gerard Gallant, Claude Julien and Rick Tocchet.

I’m not sure if the Penguins should keep Sullivan or not.

Sullivan is an excellent coach, but perhaps he’s hit his expiration date. Maybe the Penguins need to hear a different message and voice. Sullivan’s speed-and-skill, “just-play” style might not work with this group or in an NHL that’s trending heavy.

If Tocchet would definitely take the job, the Penguins should be tempted. An assistant with the Penguins from 2014-17, Tocchet has great respect in the locker room and 100% credibility with ownership. If anyone can gauge how to properly combine skill and heavy, it’s Tocchet. That’s how he played and how he coaches.

But whatever the Penguins decide, they need to decide now — or they might have to settle for Johnston again. Worse yet, John Tortorella. (Just kidding. I hope.)

Sullivan shouldn’t be untouchable. Chicago fired Joel Quenneville. Los Angeles axed Darryl Sutter. Detroit let Mike Babcock walk. If Hextall and Burke think a bad start next season gets Sullivan terminated, he should go now.

Sullivan likely would fill one of the current vacancies, so the Penguins wouldn’t have to pay off the last two years of his deal.