‘We won a division for God's sake’: Brian Burke defends Tristan Jarry, Mike Sullivan, core 3 and 'Penguins DNA'

Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations Brian Burke hears the fans and media members who are voicing frustration and calling for change.

Speaking on 105.9 The X on Thursday afternoon, Burke offered a straightforward reminder about the 2021 East Division champions.

“We won a division for God’s sake,” Burke exclaimed to host Mark Madden.

Burke did acknowledge that the first-round playoff loss to the Islanders was disappointing. And he’s aware that this is the third such playoff departure in a row for the franchise. Furthermore, he agrees with concerns about a lack of draft picks and a Wilkes-Barre AHL team that isn’t exactly bountiful with prospects.

But Burke doesn’t think now is the time to blow up the roster.

“The team did well. It deserves to be rewarded with being kept intact,” Burke insisted.

Burke was especially defensive of head coach Mike Sullivan. He soundly rejected any idea that Penguins upper management was considering a coaching change.

“We think he should be Coach of the Year. We think he did a phenomenal job,” Burke said. “Not only is he going to be back, no other outcome was discussed. So that makes me mad. When a guy has to read that his job was considered for termination and it never was, that’s not right.”

Burke pointed to Sullivan’s preparation in meetings and practices as a big reason why he thinks the Penguins have an elite coach.

Burke was similarly defensive of his teams’ starting goaltender. Tristan Jarry had a solid regular season. And Casey DeSmith was usually quite good in a backup role. But Jarry was a disaster in the Islanders series. And DeSmith was injured.

“Tristan Jarry was the reason we won the division,” Burke said. “He was the reason we had that run (in March) that we had and got in the playoffs at all. I’m not happy with his playoffs. He’s not happy with his playoffs. … But he’s the reason we got there.”

Madden asked if the franchise is preparing to come back next year with Jarry and DeSmith as the goaltending tandem in 2021-22.

“That’s certainly the plan today,” Burke replied. “That can change with a phone call if someone throws something at you that makes sense. But that is the plan today. Absolutely. If that’s how we open camp, that’s fine with us.”

On some other topics:

• Upon accepting the job on Feb. 9, Burke admitted being “skeptical” about the idea that the franchise could keep the core three of Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin together beyond this season. But he says that since he arrived in Pittsburgh, he has become a believer and doesn’t see a pressing need to break them up.

• Madden asked Burke if a desire to keep ticket sales high after two pandemic-plagued seasons may influence any decision the franchise makes in terms of holding on to their aging, but still popular, superstars.

“Since I got here, no one has said anything to me about anything besides winning as many hockey games as I can,” Burke replied.

• As far as the team’s apparent lack of size and physicality, Burke agrees with the theory of trying to find some players of that ilk for next year’s roster. Yet, he doesn’t have an agenda to overhaul the organizational makeup.

“We are all in alignment. We want to keep our Penguins DNA. High speed, highly skilled hockey,” Burke said. “But I do think we need to get bigger and tougher. And guys that can play Penguins hockey that are big and ugly are hard to find. But there is no question in my mind that we need to get bigger.”

• Lastly, on the topic of how the NHL playoffs are officiated, Burke felt the need to speak delicately.

“I don’t want to get fined,” Burke said. “So let’s just say the first line of defense for a team that is smaller and not as physical is that you expect the rule book to be applied. And you can question whether it was with equity in the playoffs.”

Yeah. That was delicate enough. That should avoid a fine.

Now let’s see if Burke and general manager Ron Hextall can put together a roster that can avoid getting bounced in the first round next season.