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Sidney Crosby won’t be choosing his next coach, but…
Maxime Truman
Sidney Crosby won’t be choosing his next coach, but…
Credit: Getty Images
A lot can happen in two short weeks.

On April 28, the Penguins fired Mike Sullivan, who had just completed his tenth season at the helm of the Pens. Sullivan still had two years left on his contract, but one imagines that he and Kyle Dubas were not on the same wavelength for the next few years..

On May 2, the Rangers announced that they had hired the same Mike Sullivan, a few days after firing Peter Laviolette…

And now, this morning (May 14), we learn from Josh Yohe(TheAthletic) that Sidney Crosby will not be involved in the Pittsburgh hiring process.

Crosby, currently in Europe with Team Canada, has indicated that he does not wish to interfere in the process led by Kyle Dubas.

Crosby was asked twice about his involvement (or not) in the search for a new head coach.

Why twice? Because you’d think a captain of Sidney Crosby’s stature, who somehow convinced Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin to sign contract extensions to stay with him in Pittsburgh, would want to give his opinion on the team’s next coach.

If Kent Hughes can ask Nick Suzuki for the pulse of the locker room, how do you think Dubas can’t ask Crosby?

But then again, Crosby has publicly stated that he has no say in the appointment of the team’s next head coach, and that he prefers it that way.

“I’m a hockey player. I don’t coach games and I’m not a general manager.” – Sidney Crosby

Except…

Crosby confessed a few minutes later to Yohe that he’d be available if Kyle Dubas ever wanted to ask his opinion on a particular candidate..

When you think about it, Sidney Crosby is playing with words.

Of course he’s not officially involved in the process. Of course he doesn’t take part in Zoom meetings and job interviews. It wouldn’t make sense.

But being prepared to give your opinion on candidate X or Y is still being involved and having a say in the candidates, isn’t it?

You know, it’s like when Connor McDavid told us he had no involvement whatsoever in the appointment of his former junior coach (Kris Knoblauch) in Edmonton… or in the (short-lived) promotion of his former agent to interim GM of the Oilers (Jeff Jackson).

We didn’t have to believe it.

Just because Connor McDavid wasn’t at the meetings doesn’t mean he wasn’t involved.

Whatever.

Who will be the next Pens coach ?
Who are the candidates to succeed Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh? We’re hearing several names: Rick Tocchet, Drew Bannister, Manny Malhotra, David Quinn, Mitch Love, Mike Van Ryan, Jay Woodcroft..

Knowing that Sidney Crosby holds Rock Tocchet in the highest esteem, I think Kyle Dubas will make a strong bid for Tocchet. But Tocchet is in demand. Very much in demand.

If the Penguins ever hire someone Sidney Crosby really likes, we’ll have to put an end to the 1001 summer rumours sending the kid to Montreal. IS THAT OKAY?


Overtime

– CH prospects in the BCHL final.

– For JT Miller, golf is “important”

– Will he be back in the line-up?

– Soccer or baseball?

– Tennis X Papacy.

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