After a couple of meetings last week — Tuesday in Pittsburgh and Sunday in Boston — Dubas trusted his gut and decided to end the longest, most successful run by any Penguins coach. Dubas described a conversation at Sullivan’s home Sunday as “amicable” and also conceded he expected Sullivan to have a successful next act behind an NHL bench.

While Mike Sullivan's departure from the Pittsburgh Penguins shocked most fans and teams around the NHL, General Manager Kyle Dubas voiced a clear statement about its implications on Sidney Crosby's future with the organization.