Mike Sullivan is a man of principle, especially when it comes to his work.
He knows how he wants his team to play, and expects it to do so.
He knows the roles he wants players to fill, and has a feel for the guys who can handle those duties most effectively.
But while Sullivan's core convictions are unwavering, the NHL's shutdown has given him and his staff an opportunity to assess some of the details and nuances of their approach to the game -- as well as how they execute their duties -- during the video conferences the coaches have been holding a couple of times every week.
And so it is that if the 2019-20 season resumes, it's entirely possible that there will be some adjustments to the Penguins' personnel combinations, strategies and tactics because of the opportunity the coaches have had to conduct the kind of in-depth evaluation that wouldn't be practical during the season under normal circumstances.
"We've certainly discussed all of those things, and different aspects of our game," Sullivan said. "Tactical things. As a coaching staff, we have strong convictions about playing a certain style that we think gives us the best chance to be successful, but having said that, I think there are subtleties to our game ... I think there are tweaks or adjustments we can add to our game, in certain aspects, that can make us a better team.
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