Odds Say Mike Sullivan is Penguins Coach in 2019-20 & Pittsburgh Makes Playoffs

• The Penguins were just swept in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs by the New York Islanders
• The odds favor Mike Sullivan returning as Penguins coach and leading his team back to the playoffs in 2019-20
• Pittsburgh hasn’t missed the playoffs since 2005-06

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan has won two Stanley Cups in his four-year tenure with the team, which is second only to Joel Quenneville among active NHL coaches. Pittsburgh hasn’t missed the playoffs since 2005-06, the longest active streak in the NHL.

Oddsmakers anticipate that run will continue next season with Sullivan behind the bench, even though the team was just swept in four games by the New York Islanders in the first round of the 2019 NHL playoffs.

The sportsbook is offering a pair of prop wagers on the Pens, one which favors Sullivan returning for his fifth season behind the Pittsburgh bench, and one which gives the Penguins favorable odds to make the playoffs for the 14th season in a row.

Will Mike Sullivan Be Penguins’ Coach for Game 1 of the 2019-20 Season?

*Odds taken on 04/17/19

A Sweeping Indictment?

Prior to this spring, the Penguins had won at least two games in 10 straight playoff series. They hadn’t been swept since losing the 2012-13 Eastern Conference final to the Boston Bruins.

That was the first time Pittsburgh suffered a sweeping exit from the postseason since also losing to the Bruins in the 1978-79 quarter-finals. This season joins 1971-72 as the only campaigns in which the Penguins qualified for the postseason and failed to win a single playoff game.

Sullivan Should Stick Around

That said, the Penguins coach has one year left on a three-year contract extension he signed during the 2016-17 season, and no Pittsburgh bench boss has led the team to more Cups than the two earned under Sullivan. He’s the only American-born coach in NHL history to win two Stanley Cups.

Firing Mike Sullivan for one disappointing year IS asinine. And there are absolutely people who seem to want to fire coaches every year that’s not a championship. https://t.co/ZkB2cGLIIu

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) April 17, 2019

Sullivan and Toe Blake (1955-56, 1956-57 Montreal Canadiens) are the only NHL coaches to win Stanley Cups in each of their first two years in charge of a team.

He’s won nine of 11 playoffs series as Penguins coach. He’s one of three coaches in franchise history to post a 50-win season.

Sullivan isn’t going anywhere.

Will the Penguins Make the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs?

What Does Pittsburgh’s Future Hold?

At the moment, it’s difficult to be a Pittsburgh pro sports fan. The Steelers are in disarray, the Penguins look to be in decline, and the Pirates are stuck in arguably the deepest division in baseball.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been swept from the #StanleyCup playoffs. pic.twitter.com/VvKNELzzEX

— Post Sports (@PostSports) April 17, 2019

No, the Penguins aren’t the same club that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2015-16 and 2016-17. But they aren’t about to go off a cliff, either.

As long as Sidney Crosby is around and performing, this team will be in the playoff hunt. Crosby, who had 100 points this season, has an uncanny ability to make everyone else around him better, as evidenced by Jake Guentzel’s first 40-goal season.

The Pittsburgh Penguins failed to win a single playoff game for the first time since Sidney Crosby's rookie season. pic.twitter.com/9ed4iN8R9Q

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 17, 2019

The Penguins need to revamp their defense and improve the caliber of their bottom-six forwards, while goalie Matt Murray must relocate his consistency.

Pittsburgh is a flawed team and an inconsistent team. But the Penguins will still be a playoff team in 2019-20.