Mike Sullivan believes that Sidney Crosby could have a future in coaching in the NHL.
Sullivan made an appearance on Sportsnet's 590 Hockey Central on Wednesday and was asked if he could see Crosby get into coaching one day.
“If he wanted to be a coach, I think he would be a terrific coach because he’s such a student of the game," Sullivan said. "It wouldn’t surprise me one bit when Sid’s done playing the game, somewhere down the line — and I don’t see that happening any time soon because he loves the game as much as he does — but I could for sure see him staying involved in the game in some capacity.”
Sullivan added that Crosby "sets the standard" when it comes to his work ethic and working on his game.
“He, for me, epitomizes an athlete that controls everything within his power to be his very best," Sullivan said. "So, when you have a guy like that on your team, and he’s the captain, and he’s the best player in the game, it certainly makes the coach’s job a whole lot easier as far as trying to set a certain level of accountability. But he’s fun to coach.
“I learn as much about the game from him as he does from us. I’m always fascinated by his insights, whether it be in some of our video meetings when we talk about the power play or when we pre-scout our opponents, trying to exploit what he sees out there. It’s always fascinating to have those conversations with him. He’s just really invested in all the different aspects of the game.”
Sullivan also spoke about the coronavirus outbreak and said that he's been "self-isolating" with his family over the past few days. He said at the time of the shutdown, he felt the team was "starting to turn the corner" after a period of struggling.
"In some way, I'm disappointed for the group," he said. "I feel like we were making big strides in trying to capture the game that we played so consistently all year long."
Sullivan was asked if there was a specific player who he thought was really making strides in his game before the shutdown.
"One of the guys who jumps out at me is Justin Schultz," Sullivan said. "He's had not an easy year from an injury standpoint, he's missed a fair amount of time. He's such an important player for our team. He's so dynamic offensively and the puck just hasn't gone in the net for him this year. It hasn't been from a lack of opportunity, that's for sure. He scored a big goal for us in the Jersey game right before the season was suspended, and we felt like his game was really starting to gain some traction."
Similar to what the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton players told me is happening at the AHL level, team strength coaches have developed workout plans for players that they can do in their homes.
"We're trying to do everything we can under difficult circumstances to try and stay prepared," Sullivan said. "I know our strength coaches have had personal conversations with every guy and taken an inventory of what they have at their disposal in their respective homes and then building individual programs for these guys that they can continue to do on a daily basis to try to stay fit and keep themselves ready in the event that we get on the other side of this. We're doing what we can to stay ready, but obviously the priority here is on the health and well being of everybody first and foremost."
The interview concluded with Sullivan, a Patriots fan, being asked about Tom Brady leaving New England.
"Ohh, that was a tough day yesterday for a Patriots fan, I have to say," Sullivan said. "He's arguably the greatest quarterback of all time. I'm disappointed because I thought for sure he would never wear another jersey other than a New England Patriots jersey. That was a tough day for me personally because I'm a huge Patriots fan.
"Although having said that, I've really developed an affinity here in Pittsburgh for the Steelers. We have a great relationship and I have so much respect for Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert and what they do here in Pittsburgh. But it's hard to shed childhood loyalties, and I've always been a Patriots fan."
Sullivan's full appearance can be heard here.
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