Penguins' clean-out day takeaways: Mike Sullivan's future, Evgeni Malkin M.I.A.

New York Times

18-04-2025

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Mike Sullivan spoke loud and clear. Evgeni Malkin did not.
The Penguins finished a third straight season without qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Before getting on with their offseasons, they met with the media.
Here are 10 observations from the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.
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• Mike Sullivan isn't going anywhere.
It's not a particularly well-guarded secret in the hockey world that certain members of the New York Rangers organization have something of an infatuation for Sullivan, who has coached the Penguins since 2015. The coach addressed his future Friday at the start of his season-ending press conference.
'My intentions are to be the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins,' Sullivan said.
The typically verbose Sullivan cut off his answer after those words, letting silence fill the room.
Few topics aggravate Sullivan more. He told me on two different occasions during one-on-one interviews this season that he has absolutely no intentions of leaving the Penguins, that his loyalty to the franchise is extreme, and that he wants to coach these Penguins until they are champions again.
I believe him.
• Sidney Crosby left the door open to compete in the Ice Hockey World Championships in Sweden later this spring. He didn't say yes, but he didn't say no, either. Crosby said he'd be in contact with Kyle Dubas about it, since Dubas not only runs the Penguins but will also be Team Canada's general manager at the World Championships.
A part of me would be surprised if Crosby were to join the event. But, I will say this: Lately, when addressing his conditioning and ability to remain essentially ageless, Crosby continually discusses his need to 'keep going.' He said that, unlike when he was young, taking time off actually seems to hurt him these days, as it takes him longer to regain his legs and hands when he's away from the rink. In other words, he's working harder than ever to remain great.
So, maybe a two-week workout in Stockholm would nicely complement his agenda.
• Crosby spoke for nearly 10 minutes with the assembled media and shook hands with all of the reporters, one by one, as is his custom after each season.
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One of my favorite Crosby quirks is that he always greets us barefoot. Someone asked why.
'I never wear shoes in the locker room,' he explained.
Most Canadians I've known very politely remove their shoes when they walk into your home. Most of us Americans aren't always so quick to do so. Maybe Crosby thinks of the locker room like we think about a living room. Whatever the case, it made me laugh.
• Reporters surrounded Malkin after Thursday's game against the Washington Capitals. He declined to speak, explaining that he would instead speak the next day.
But Malkin was nowhere to be found Friday.
He surely would have been asked about his hockey future. Malkin has one year remaining on his contract.
The future Hall of Famer has said he intends to finish out his contract with the Penguins before deciding whether he will retire.
• I have to give Tristan Jarry some credit. I've been plenty hard on him and, deservedly so, in my opinion. When the franchise sends its starting goaltender to Wilkes-Barre twice because of poor play, well, that's a problem.
Jarry finished the season on a strong note, however. I also sense that the difficulties of this season have helped him develop some maturity and authenticity.
He addressed his difficult start to the season Friday.
'That's on me,' he said.
Jarry isn't always good about uttering those words. Good for him for taking some accountability.
Being on waivers was the low point of his career, he admitted.
'It was something upsetting for me,' Jarry said. 'It wasn't something I ever expected when I signed my contract. It was something that happened. I had to build from it.'
To his credit, I believe he did grow from it. Don't be surprised if he's the opening night goaltender in October.
• Bryan Rust isn't likely to play for Team USA in the upcoming World Championships because he and his wife are expecting a child.
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His body deserves some time off (which isn't to say he can expect to get much sleep in the next few months). As Sullivan pointed out earlier this week, it's difficult for Rust to play all 82 games in a season because of the toll his playing style takes on his body.
Rust will be the next player in Pittsburgh to permanently wear a letter on his chest.
• The mood in the locker room was far too cheery for the occasion. Most of the Penguins took this season hard and have obvious expectations regarding the future. To this day, Crosby and Rust look like they've just lost Game 7 after every regular-season loss, for instance.
A handful of these Penguins, however, don't seem to make winning a priority. It's something you typically see on bad or below-average teams, especially when they employ too many veterans. The youth movement is the way to go for the Penguins. It will accelerate their path back to the playoffs and cut a bad apple or two along the way.
• I chatted with Rutger McGroarty for a few minutes after he met with the media, and I have to say, he's as delightful a kid as the Penguins have employed in quite some time. He's got charisma. He's smart. He's funny. He's got a personality that fills up the entire locker room. Everyone is drawn to this kid, and Pittsburgh will love him.
• Erik Karlsson spoke all season about his performance in fairly glowing terms. The truth came out following the season, though, as Karlsson admitted his game has been too up and down during his two seasons in Pittsburgh.
My sense is that Karlsson and his family genuinely like it in Pittsburgh and that he prefers to stay with the organization moving forward. I'm not so sure everyone in the organization feels the same.
• The energy McGroarty and Ville Koivunen bring to that locker room is noticeable and contagious, even when everyone is saying goodbye for the summer. It's so painfully clear that these Penguins have been starved of a youth infusion for far too long. Finally, it's beginning to arrive.
(Top photo of Mike Sullivan: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)