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Ron Cook: Penguins coach Mike Sullivan knows how to push Ian Cole's buttons

When it comes to his tough-love handling of Ian Cole, Mike Sullivan is either crazy or a genius. Considering Sullivan is 113-59-19 with the Penguins, 8 for 8 in playoff series and 2 for 2 in Stanley Cups, I’m betting he’s a genius. But it’s still hard to understand why Cole was a healthy scratch for three games in November and for seven more in January. I believe he’s one of the team’s top four defensemen, certainly better than Matt Hunwick.

“I think the coach wanted more out of him,” Jim Rutherford said.

That was the case in Sullivan’s first season, the 2015-16 season.