Memorable year for Mike Sullivan, Penguins

PITTSBURGH --Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan walked to the podium Monday the same way he has throughout the past year.
Wearing a black and gold windbreaker, Sullivan hunched over the microphone with a Penguins baseball cap just above his eyes. He spoke succinctly, almost as if he was considering each word.

It's been that way since Pittsburgh hired Sullivan one year ago, on Dec. 12, 2015, but something was different.
For the first time, Sullivan seemed unsure what to say.
"I don't know that I can put it into words, the experience that I've had so far with this group of players," he said. "I think this coaching staff is very grateful to have the opportunity to coach this group of players. … I don't know that I can articulate and give it its justice what this past year has meant to me personally."
The impact Sullivan has had on the Penguins during the past year, individually and as a group, has been clear. They've led the NHL by averaging 3.29 goals per game, 3.61 goals per game at home, and their 29 home wins are tied for the most in the League. They're second in the NHL with 51 wins and third with 110 points.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has led the League with 97 points in 74 games since Sullivan took over. His 1.31 points-per-game average is the best among players with at least 50 games, and teammate Evgeni Malkin is tied for third at 1.09 points per game (Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid is second at 1.19 points per game).
"I think the players tried to take responsibility and play better, but he's definitely kind of led the way," Crosby said of Sullivan. "He's shown what he expects of us right from Day 1 and he's gotten a lot out of us and I think that says a lot about the job that he's done."
Before Sullivan took over, Pittsburgh went 15-10-3 and averaged 2.36 goals per game in its first 28 games under Mike Johnston last season. Crosby, in particular, sustained a significant drop in production with six goals and 19 points in his first 28 games.
With rumors swirling regarding Johnston's job security, the Penguins defeated the San Jose Sharks 5-1 on Dec. 1, 2015. They then lost back-to-back games, 5-3 to the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 5 and 2-1 to Anaheim Ducks the following day.
The Penguins finished the road trip with a 4-2 win at the Colorado Avalanche on Dec. 9, but lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Los Angeles Kings at home Dec. 11.
The following day, at 12:30 p.m. ET, Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford announced Johnston had been fired and Sullivan was promoted from coach of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the Penguins' American Hockey League affiliate.

Sullivan didn't arrive in Pittsburgh until the next day, where he ran his first practice and met with the media. During that practice he preached the importance of establishing a team identity.
The transition began slowly with the Penguins losing their first four games under Sullivan by a combined score of 15-4. In all, they lost six of their first eight games (2-5-1) after the coaching change. But eventually, Sullivan imprinted his mindset throughout the lineup.
Speed began to define the Penguins.
"We play really fast and we play a really good structure," forward Patric Hornqvist said. "[Sullivan is] always positive on the bench and gives us some energy. That's the big thing."
Adding forward Carl Hagelin in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on Jan. 16 helped. So did the surprising impact of forwards Conor Sheary, Scott Wilson, Bryan Rust and Tom Kuhnhackl, who arrived from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton during the season.
The youth blended well with the Penguins' core of Crosby, Malkin and defenseman Kris Letang. The Penguins finished 2015-16 third in the League with 2.94 goals per game, behind the Dallas Stars (3.23) and Washington Capitals (3.02).
Crosby finished third in the League with 85 points and tied for seventh with 36 goals. He then had six goals and 19 points in 24 Stanley Cup Playoff games, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy en route to helping the Penguins win the Stanley Cup.
This season, the Penguins have kept on going. Entering their game against the Arizona Coyotes on Monday (7 p.m. ET; TVA Sports, ROOT, FS-A, NHL.TV), they're second in the Metropolitan Division with 39 points, two behind the New York Rangers. They're second in the League at 3.39 goals per game and Crosby remains among the top offensive performers in the NHL with a League-leading 20 goals in 22 games.
From forming the "HBK Line" of Nick Bonino centering Hagelin and Phil Kessel to putting Sheary, an undrafted 24-year-old rookie on Crosby's left wing during the Stanley Cup Final, Sullivan seemed to press the right buttons consistently.
Crosby and his teammates credited their coach for their turnaround, but Sullivan directed it back to the players.
"They're a privilege to coach," he said. "They work extremely hard. We have great leadership. They care about their teammates. They care about winning."