Mike Sullivan opens up about job security, lack of adjustments and desire to stick around

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa.

Mike Sullivan always tells his players to block out the noise, his friendly reminder that criticism from fans and media shouldnt infest a hockey players thoughts.

What about when the noise is circulating around the head coach? NHL organizations fire coaches with outrageous regularity and Sullivan, despite boasting consecutive championships on his resume, is under fire from a segment of the fan base that believes his expiration date has come and gone in Pittsburgh.

The fact of the matter is, the Penguins have missed the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of the past two seasons.

At the quarter pole of this season, theyve been one of the NHLs worst teams.

Advertisement Sullivan sat down with The Athletic to discuss his job security, the plight of his Penguins and more.

One thing about Sullivan is very, very clear: He wont resign or retire from the Penguins anytime soon.

If Penguins ownership no longer wishes for Sullivan to be their head coach, so be it.

But hell go down with the ship simply because he believes the ship will rise again, and he wishes to keep his job all the way through.

Sullivan has two seasons on his contract following this one.

Im invested in the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sullivan said.

I care very, very deeply about this organization.

I care deeply about the group of guys who have been in that locker room for a very long time.

I love this organization with all of my soul.

This organization and so many people associated with it have changed my life in so many ways.

And so, for me, the challenge of trying to move this team forward and transition this team, its a different kind of challenge, but its one that I am welcoming.

Sullivan was asked if hes concerned about losing his job.

Im not concerned about it, no, he said.

Im well aware of what I signed up for.

Its the nature of the business.

My main focus is trying to do what I do every day, applying a certain process Im comfortable with to win games.

Ill bring everything I can to the table every day to help this team win, until such time when someone tells me otherwise.

There is little question this season has affected Sullivan.

He is known around the Penguins players and front office members for his legendary competitive streak.

No one likes losing, but Sullivan hates it with a particular passion.

His team has been doing a lot of losing this season.

I think Id be lying if I said it doesnt bother me, Sullivan said.

I take a lot of pride in what I do.

Advertisement Sullivan is sensitive to the idea that he never makes adjustments.

That, he said, is anything but true.

In terms of lineup deployment, Sullivan has been doing everything in his power to ignite his once-great team.

At one point, Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang were both removed from the top power play.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were placed on the same line for a two-week stretch, something Sullivan has never done.

The lineup has been different almost every night.

And then there are the strategic adjustments.

There has been a narrative in Pittsburgh that there havent been adjustments to our team game or our tactics, Sullivan said.

Its quite the opposite.

I wont bore you with details.

But theres been a whole lot of change in how weve approached the way we do everything, from details to how we play in all three games, on both sides of the puck.

Sullivan doesnt appear to have lost his locker room.

His players routinely praise him, on and off the record, and that hasnt changed.

Hes been great, Marcus Pettersson said.

Hes so steady, so honest with us.

Hes so direct.

Tells you what you need to do better, what youre doing well.

We have total respect for him.

Sullivan knows the clock could be ticking on his time in Pittsburgh, simply because this is the NHL.

Penguins general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas and Fenway Sports Group ownership have publicly and privately offered nothing but belief and loyalty to Sullivan.

Still, the coach sounds prepared for anything, but hopeful of being in Pittsburgh for a long time.

Thats the reality of pro sports, Sullivan said.

Ive been in this business for a long time, long enough to understand that.

Sullivan said he has consistently questioned himself and his staff, leaving no stone unturned in attempting to figure out what can help his team rebound.

Advertisement I ask hard questions of myself and my staff all the time, he said.

I wouldnt be doing my job if I wasnt asking those questions.

Now, do I doubt myself? The answer is no.

I have a strong belief in how I go about my job every day.

I have unwavering belief in that process.

Sullivan will keep doing things his way, critics be damned.

I think its important as an individual in our business to have strong convictions, he said.

If I dont have strong convictions, then Im not deserving of being in this seat.

I understand when a team doesnt have success, then the critics are going to come out.

Thats what we all sign up for and thats OK.

But if I were to read every time that happened, wed be all over the place with respect to how we go about our day-to-day work.

So, I do hold myself accountable.

That never changes.

Sullivan said he will continue to hold himself and his team accountable.

He doesnt know any other way and he believes that, if he and his players remain on the same page, everything will turn around in Pittsburgh.

I know he believes that and we believe in him, Rickard Rakell said.

Were all in this together and no one is happy right now.

But we know we have a great coach.

Hes a coach who is aware of the noise.

Its my job to get this team going, Sullivan said.

I tell my players all the time to lean in, dig in.

Thats what Im doing as a coach, too.

Im trying to show them through my own actions that were going to turn this around.

(Top photo: Winslow Townson / Getty Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.