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Sidney Crosby Comments on His Role in Finding the Next Penguins Head Coach
The Penguins are on the hunt to find their next head coach, and team captain and legend Sidney Crosby spoke out about the search for the new bench boss.
With the regular season having wrapped up a month ago, the Penguins have since split with longtime head coach Mike Sullivan and begun searching for a new bench boss. So, where does Sidney Crosby stand on it all?
Crosby has been close to Sullivan, and that relationship doesn't appear to change. When reflecting on the past, Crosby chooses his words carefully.
But when the subject of the team's future is raised, and whether he'll have any input in the hiring of the next coach, his voice is more direct.
"No," he said tersely.
Really?
"Nope," Crosby repeated.
Really?
"Nope," Crosby repeated.
Despite caring about winning, Crosby is adamant he will not try to pick the next coach
As an all-time great in NHL history, Crosby's opinion carries weight in Pittsburgh. It would come as no surprise if he had some input in the hiring. He won't, though.
"I don't have any say on who our next coach is going to be," Crosby said. "And I prefer it that way."
"Because, ultimately, I'm a hockey player," Crosby said. "I'm not out there coaching games. I am not a manager."
"Because, ultimately, I'm a hockey player," Crosby said. "I'm not out there coaching games. I am not a manager."
Crosby was emphatic that he won't be, unless one specific name comes up in conversation with team president Kyle Dubas. That would be Rick Tocchet.
"If he wants my opinion on someone who's out there, and someone who is out there that I might have had as coach before or someone I've heard about, then sure, then I'll share my opinion," Crosby said.
A one-time leading candidate on many coaching shortlists, Tocchet has a connection with Crosby as a former Penguins assistant. Crosby has respected him for many years. But Tocchet has moved on to the Flyers, ending any reunion speculation.
"Yes, that is someone I'm familiar with," Crosby said. "But the thing with him is that he's going to have a ton of teams after him."
As much as he respects Tocchet, Crosby is stepping aside and letting the front office do its work now that the former Canucks coach is out of the equation.
"It really doesn't matter. I don't care," Crosby said. "I really don't. I just want to win, and I want the person behind the bench who is going to give us the best chance to win."
Whomever the Penguins select, whether a veteran or a rookie, Crosby insists he's not playing favorites.
| POLL | ||
MAI 14 | 114 ANSWERS Sidney Crosby Comments on His Role in Finding the Next Penguins Head Coach Do you believe that Sidney Crosby will have some sort of influence on the team's next coach? | ||
| Yes | 89 | 78.1 % |
| No | 25 | 21.9 % |
| List of polls | ||