Pittsburgh Penguins Extend Mike Sullivan for Three More Seasons

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Monday that they have signed head coach Mike Sullivan to a three-year extension. 

Sullivan replaced Mike Johnston as the bench boss for the Penguins just over a season ago, before turning Pittsburgh’s season around and leading them to their fourth Stanley Cup. With the extension, Sullivan will continue to guide the team through the 2019-2020 season.

Sullivan said on the Penguins website, “It is nice to have some assurance and certainty. To be a part of the Penguins for me has been a privilege. It is a great organization to work for. We have high expectations as an organization. That is always exciting to be part of as an athlete or coach, because the reason we are in it is because we want to win championships.”

He continued, “When you look at how this organization has been run over the years, they do things the right way that give this team the best chance to compete for a championship year in and year out. They have a great scouting staff. They have a great development department. They make a huge investment in Wilkes-Barre and the minor-league team as a part of that development process. They do everything in their power to give the organization a chance to compete for championships. To be a part of that is exciting. I am grateful for the opportunity that I have been given here, and I look forward to the challenges ahead.”

Sullivan became just the sixth American-born head coach and fourth coach to take over behind the bench mid-season to lead his team to a Stanley Cup Championship. During the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs the Penguins went 16-8 enroute to hoisting the “Silver Chalice.” 

Since taking over behind the bench, he has led the Penguins to a 55-24-10 regular season record. 14 of those 55 wins have come after falling behind by two or more goals. Pittsburgh has also gone 109 games, including the playoffs, without a back-to-back loss in regulation.  

Penguins general manager, Jim Rutherford told The Pittsburgh Tribune Review, “We are only a few months away from him entering his [current contract’s] final year. I felt he did the best coaching job in the league last year, and he has continued to do it. He is a guy that can relate and communicate with our players, so this is good not only for the Penguins, but also for him, knowing [he has] security here in Pittsburgh.”

This season the Penguins are 22-8-5 and sit just one point behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for first place in the Metropolitan Division. As they come out of the Christmas recess, Pittsburgh will travel to Newark on Tuesday night to take on the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center. 

Jaromir Jagr Ties Mark Messier for Second Place All-Time Points

The “Ageless Wonder,” Jaromir Jagr reached yet another milestone on Tuesday night as the Florida Panthers defeated the Buffalo Sabres, 4-3 in a shootout, at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida. 

Jagr picked up an assist on all three of the Panthers regulation goals, bring his all-time points totals to 1,887 and a second-place tie with Hall of Famer, Mark Messier. The milestone point came just over 16 minutes into the final frame, when he picked up the helper on Nick Bjugstad’s first goal of the 2016-2017 season. 

By tying Messier, only “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky, who scored 2,857 points in the National Hockey League has more. Jagr’s next point will move him in sole possession of second place and just 969 points behind Gretzky. 

Jagr’s numbers may prove to be a little bit more impressive than Messier’s, due to when each of them had their peak periods. Messier achieved a lot of his totals during the high-scoring era in the 1980’s, while Jagr began his scoring peak around the 1994-1995 season. 

During that lockout shortened 1994-1995 season, Jagr captured his first Art Ross Trophy, as he led the league in scoring with 70 points in 48 games. He also went on to lead the league in scoring during the next four out six seasons as well. 

In the 495 games between the 1994-1995 and the 2000-2001 seasons, he scored 314 goals and 446 assists for 760 points, about 23.6 percent more than Teemu Salanne who with 615 points in 502 games, had the second most points during the same period. 

In Messier’s peak years from 1983-1984 to 1989-1990, he was unable to capture an Art Ross Trophy, despite putting up 680 points in 496 games. As his era had many scorers, those totals could only get him to 10^th place overall. 

During the late 1980’s though, Messier did climb up to fifth, but never got that chance to claim the top spot, as Jagr had been able to do during his peak. While the two superstars’ careers did overlap 14 seasons, between 1990-1991 and 2003-2004, most of Messier’s was spent in the high scoring era.

The 11 seasons prior to their career’s overlapping, teams managed to put up about 7.6 goals per game, about two goals more than in the nine years Jagr played after Messier hung up his skates. 

In the World Hockey Association, Messier put up one goal and 10 assists in 52 games, during the 1979-1980 season. Jagr, who spent three seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League, with Omsk Avangard, between 2008-2009 and 2010-2011, put up 66 goals and 80 assists in 155 games.

Jagr’s career also spanned three lockouts, in which he played for Kladno in the Czech Extraliga adding 22 points in 11 games during the 1994-1995 season. He had 28 points in 17 games for Kladno and 39 in 32 games for Omsk during the 2004-2005 season. In 2012-2013, he put up 57 points in 34 for Kladno. 

Messier though did take home the Hart Trophy, as league Most Valuable Player twice, despite not claiming an Art Ross, while Jagr, with his five scoring titles, only won the Hart once. A fact that shows both players went above and beyond in how they contributed to their clubs. 

Messier’s 95 shorthanded points puts him in second place and has 80 more than Jagr. Messier also has hoisted the Stanley Cup four more times than Jagr has been able to do. 

In addition to Jagr tying Messier for second place on the NHL All-Time Points list with 1,887, the Panthers victory gave goaltender Roberto Luongo his 447^th career win and a fifth-place tie with Terry Sawchuck. 

The victory also denied Sabres coach Dan Bylsma from becoming the second fastest coach to win his 330^th regular season game. 

Florida Panthers Owner Vincent Viola Nominated Secretary of the Army by President Elect Donald Trump

Florida Panthers Owner, Vincent Viola, was nominated by President-Elect, Donald J. Trump to become the Security of the Army on Monday. 

Prior to establishing a successful business career, Viola, a 1977 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, was a former U.S. Army Infantry Officer and served in the 101^st Airborne. The nomination is subject to confirmation of the United States Senate. He has continued to remain engaged with national security issues since completing his military service obligations. 

Trump said, “I am proud to have such an incredibly accomplished and selfless individual as Vincent Viola as our Secretary of the Army.”

 

The PEOTUS continued, “Whether it is his distinguished military service or highly impressive track record in the world of business, Vinnie has proved throughout his life that he knows how to be a leader and deliver major results in the face of any challenge.”

Viola, the founder and executive chairman of Virtu Financial bought the Panthers on September 27, 2013. During the 2015-2016 National Hockey League season, the Panthers established franchise records in wins with 47 and points of 103. They also made it to the postseason for the fifth time in the history of their franchise. 

Panther’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Caldwell said, “We are honored and humbled to see Mr. Viola nominated as the Secretary of the Army. We could not be more proud for Vinnie and his dedication to our country.”

 

Viola has designated current team Vice Chairman and Alternate Governor, Douglas Cifu to take over the role of Chairman and Governor for Sunrise Sports and Entertainment. The move is subject to approval by the NHL Board of Governors. 

In a statement the NHL said, “We proudly congratulate Vincent Viola on his nomination to this important position, which pending Senate approval, obviously will require his full-time attention. The club has assured us that the day-to-day operations of the Panthers’ franchise will not be affected by this development, and we will certainly work closely with the club to ensure that is the case.”

 

The league went on to say, “Mr. Viola and team ownership have further advised that they remain completely committed to South Florida and the Panthers’ fans.”

Following the Senate confirmation, as well as the approval of the Board of Governors, the Panthers will be placed into a trust to be run by members of the Viola family and Cifu. 

President of Hockey Operations, Dale Tallon said, “Our hockey team has always been proud to be part of Mr. Viola’s legacy. We admire his dedication to his country and are excited to watch him pursue this new endeavor.”

Cifu added, “As Vinnie’s long-time business partner and friend, I am humbled I am humbled by the commitment to service he is demonstrating by accepting this great nomination. While we all miss his leadership and guidance day to day, his mentorship over these many years has prepared me to take on this humbling responsibility with the Panthers and the NHL and I look forward to continuing his legacy and vision once he is confirmed.”