It was all but set in stone that Mike Sullivan would be the one to man the Penguins' bench through the end of the Sidney Crosby era. Now, it is set in stone.
The Penguins have signed Sullivan to a three-year contract extension that kicks in at the end of the 2023-24 season and runs through the 2026-27 season, it was announced on Tuesday by Ron Hextall.
Hextall isn't letting another first-round postseason exit cloud his perception of Sullivan, and reiterated that he believes Sullivan is one of the best in the business at what he does.
"Mike is one of the top coaches in the National Hockey League and it was important for us to have him signed long term," Hextall said. "He is a great leader that finds success through communication, honesty and accountability. We know that Sully is committed to continuing a winning culture here in Pittsburgh."
Since being promoted from the head coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to the head coach of the NHL Penguins on Dec. 12, 2015, Sullivan has led the team to a 297-156-54 (.639 points percentage) record. During that time, the Penguins have the fourth most regular-season victories (297) and the second most playoff victories (44) in the NHL, both of which make Sullivan the winningest head coach in Penguins history.
"It's hard for me to articulate more of what the penguins mean to me," Sullivan told the media via video chat on Tuesday afternoon. "When I think about my time here in Pittsburgh, with what we've been able to accomplish and winning a couple of Stanley Cups and making the playoffs every year and challenging every single season, we feel as though we have a chance to win each and every year."
It's no secret an NHL coaching staff should be comprised of various personality types that include unique qualities and traits. When I asked Sullivan what qualities and traits have brought him success, he credited much of it to the coaches he's had the pleasure of working with in his time with the Penguins.
"Well, I've had the privilege of working with some really smart hockey minds and some great coaches in my time with the Pittsburgh Penguins," Sullivan said. "These guys, they challenged me every day. They bring ideas, they have strong convictions, none of them that I mentioned are yes-men by any stretch. We have some heated discussions behind closed doors. And they challenged me to be a better coach every day. I don't think we would have the success that we've had in my time here without those guys and their input and and their contribution to helping us win."
Even if Sullivan downplayed what he brings to the table, Fenway Sports Group executives didn't hold back on how highly they think of him.
"This is a wonderful day for the entire organization with Mike committing to remain as head coach for the long term with the Penguins," Fenway Sports Group Principal Owner John Henry said. "He has clearly demonstrated what an effective leader he is and it’s evident how well players respond to his philosophy and work ethic night after night, month after month."
Fenway Sports Group Chairman Tom Werner also gave praise to Sullivan, and like Hextall, he believes Sullivan is among an elite group of NHL coaches.
"We value the relationship we are developing with Mike and felt it was important to ensure that relationship would continue long term," Werner said. "He’s one of the best coaches in the National Hockey League and we look forward to our continued collaboration with him and the entire Penguins organization to bring another Stanley Cup to Pittsburgh."
What does it mean to Sullivan for ownership and the front office displaying their unwavering confidence in him?
"It means the world to me," Sullivan said, "to the fact that John Henry and Tom Werner and the Fenway Sports Group, Hexy and Burkie and our management team has shown the faith and the trust in me to be the leader of the team in the head coach capacity means the world to me. It's an honor to coach this team.
"I don't take one day for granted. This organization means so much to me. We've been able to accomplish a lot in my tenure here together with the coaching staffs that I've had the privilege of being a part of, and the players that have been here. I've been surrounded by such great people, I had the luxury of inheriting a standard of excellence, a certain culture that that has been developed here in Pittsburgh."
The Penguins have not finished below third place in the Metropolitan Division in any of Sullivan's seven seasons as head coach, and have won two Stanley Cups along with a 9-5 record in playoff series.
After pacing the Penguins to a 46-25-11 record during the 2021-22 season, Sullivan was rated by HockeyViz as the head coach with the highest overall impact on his team's ability to create quality offense and limit quality chances against.
It comes as no surprise, but Sullivan attributed a great deal of the aforementioned standard of excellence to Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang.
"They're the guys that have created the standard of excellence that I think all Pittsburgh fans and Pittsburgh Penguins are held accountable to," Sullivan said. "Pittsburgh fans have had the privilege to watch these guys over the last decade and a half. These guys are special players, they're special people. I've never been around a more driven group of core players than these three guys.
"I just have so much respect for those three players, it's hard to articulate it."
Sullivan later said that while the Penguins are -- obviously -- getting older, they're not old, and that there's a big difference between the two.
Sullivan's extension follows recent two-year contract extensions for now-associate head coach Todd Reirden and assistant coach Mike Vellucci. With all three bench coaches secured for several seasons, Hextall and Fenway Sports Group have made it clear that they believe this staff is equipped to potentially lead the Penguins back to glory.
The man with the freshest extension is ready for the challenge.
"I believe we have an opportunity to win again," Sullivan said. "I believe in these guys. I just think they're that good. They're that driven. And they're willing to put the work in to do what it takes."
