Mike Sullivan`s almost ten-year run as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins has concluded.
On Monday, the team announced they were ending their relationship with the coach who led them to two Stanley Cups. This decision comes slightly more than a week after the Penguins failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
Sullivan holds the franchise record with 409 wins for Pittsburgh. He guided the team to consecutive championships in 2016 and 2017 and had two years remaining on his contract, signed in 2022. The 57-year-old recently expressed a desire to stay with the team as it attempts to rebuild around future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby.
Last week, General Manager Kyle Dubas had taken a more reserved stance, stating he and Sullivan planned discussions to ensure their perspectives on the team`s direction were in sync. On Monday, Dubas commented that the decision to part ways was difficult but deemed necessary by the club.
Dubas stated, “As we continue guiding the Penguins through this period of transition, we believed this was the optimal path forward for everyone involved.”
This announcement contrasted notably with Dubas`s remarks last week, where he praised Sullivan as an “elite-level” coach seemingly committed to the significant roster changes Dubas is working to implement.
A week prior, Dubas had said, “It`s often the case that very few coaches of his caliber wish to remain with a team during such a phase. However, he has been very transparent about his desire to do so, and we intended to continue confirming that. As long as he felt that way, we would proceed.”
Sullivan was initially hired by the Penguins in December 2015, replacing Mike Johnston, in an effort to revitalize the team. He implemented a straightforward, pragmatic style. This, coupled with astute decisions by then-general manager Jim Rutherford, contributed to Pittsburgh becoming the first team in almost 20 years to secure consecutive championships.
Sullivan also formed strong relationships with Crosby and other key figures like Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, frequently commending their leadership during the latter part of the team`s 16-year streak of playoff appearances.
However, the initial success of Sullivan`s era diminished as the core players aged. The front office, led first by Rutherford (who departed in early 2021) and then by his successor Ron Hextall (fired after just over two years), struggled to acquire the necessary players to build a balanced roster, which rapidly became older and top-heavy.
Pittsburgh barely missed the playoffs in 2023. They were further from qualification in 2024, and even more so this year, effectively eliminated over the last two months. This occurred despite another outstanding season from the 37-year-old Crosby, who extended his NHL record with a 20th consecutive season averaging at least a point per game.
The decision was somewhat unexpected, considering Sullivan`s track record, his rapport with Crosby, and Fenway Sports Group`s apparent admiration for the coach since acquiring the team in late 2021.
This move might also have been a courtesy. The timing instantly positions Sullivan as potentially the most sought-after coaching candidate available. Among the open positions is the New York Rangers, an experienced team perhaps closer to competing for a championship than the Penguins.
