This is about more than how the Pens played. No one will report this, but Mike Johnston repeatedly figuratively spit in JR's face.
At the end of camp, JR made it very clear that he didn't want Sprong kept up, but Sprong's play, plus pressure from the 9, plus the mistrust of DS' junior organization, convinced JR to keep Sprong up. When that happened, JR made it clear - crystal clear - that he did NOT want Sprong to sit in the press box.
Moreover, before the Ottawa game (At the beginning of the year), JR - on behalf of ownership - made it explicitly clear that management wanted younger players (more than just Sprong) in. At the time, the intimation was, "stop playing Scuderi."
So MJ stopped playing Scuderi... for 3 periods. Then right back to scratching Clendending and the Sprong **** started, and it was down hill from there.
And regardless of what people want to say, Sidney Crosby was not keen on both KCD NOR the constant changing of his lines every other period.
And that - well, not Crosby's line specifically, but finding combinations that work and being more proactive with what JR considers to be an immensely-deep forward group - was another slap in the face of JR.
GMs don't dictate towards the coach, and JR and MJ are no different, but JR was saddled with certain things he couldn't control (Dupuis, Scuderi, etc...) and he made sure to accumulate enough talent to afford MJ the opportunity to reduce (or eliminate entirely) the roles those players played.
And don't overlook the firing of Agnew. All of this is connected, and it's really inexplicable, unless MJ actually wanted to get fired.
The next month will be a tryout for Sullivan. If he can pull of some Bylsmagic, he'll likely retain the job. If the team continues to falter, then the Penguins will look at other options when the compensation rules change.
You can expect the team to play a more aggressive style fro the next month, at least.
(This likely would have happened Thursday, but they were expecting a Dupuis tribute on Friday and didn't want to overshadow things. Then the Dupuis tribute was pushed back, and while they still don't want to overshadow it, the team wanted to move on ASAP)
