After 10 seasons behind the bench, the Penguins are parting ways with Mike Sullivan.
"On behalf of Fenway Sports Group and the Penguins organization, I would like to thank Mike Sullivan for his unwavering commitment and loyalty to the team and City of Pittsburgh over the past decade,” Kyle Dubas said in a press release. “Mike is known for his preparation, focus and fierce competitiveness. I was fortunate to have a front-row seat to his dedication to this franchise for the past two seasons. He will forever be an enormous part of Penguins history, not only for the impressive back-to-back Cups, his impact on the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Bryan Rust, but more importantly, for his love and loyalty to the organization. This was not a decision that was taken lightly, but as we continue to navigate the Penguins through this transitional period, we felt it was the best course forward for all involved."
The team's press release says the Penguins and Sullivan "have agreed to part ways," implying a mutual decision. This is quite a surprise, given the way Sullivan shut down any intention of his to move on for some other coaching position.
"My intentions are to be the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins," he said during the team's locker cleanout day.
While Dubas' own words at his end-of-season press conference were somewhat noncommittal, it didn't sound like he was seriously considering firing Sullivan. He made it sound like Sullivan could very well still be the guy to lead the team through this build up back to becoming a contender.
"He's an elite-level coach as he's shown throughout his time here, and as he showed for Team USA," Dubas said. "There's always the point that very few coaches who are in that realm often want to see a team through this, but he's been very open about this is what he wants to do. We'll just continue to reaffirm that, and as long as he's on that side of it, then we'll roll with that."
Sullivan's tenure ends after becoming the winningest coach in franchise history with 409 wins behind the bench. His place in franchise history was already cemented long before that when he led the team to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.
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THE ASYLUM
Chris Halicke
1:23 pm - 04.28.2025DowntownPenguins part ways with Sullivan
After 10 seasons behind the bench, the Penguins are parting ways with Mike Sullivan.
"On behalf of Fenway Sports Group and the Penguins organization, I would like to thank Mike Sullivan for his unwavering commitment and loyalty to the team and City of Pittsburgh over the past decade,” Kyle Dubas said in a press release. “Mike is known for his preparation, focus and fierce competitiveness. I was fortunate to have a front-row seat to his dedication to this franchise for the past two seasons. He will forever be an enormous part of Penguins history, not only for the impressive back-to-back Cups, his impact on the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Bryan Rust, but more importantly, for his love and loyalty to the organization. This was not a decision that was taken lightly, but as we continue to navigate the Penguins through this transitional period, we felt it was the best course forward for all involved."
The team's press release says the Penguins and Sullivan "have agreed to part ways," implying a mutual decision. This is quite a surprise, given the way Sullivan shut down any intention of his to move on for some other coaching position.
"My intentions are to be the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins," he said during the team's locker cleanout day.
While Dubas' own words at his end-of-season press conference were somewhat noncommittal, it didn't sound like he was seriously considering firing Sullivan. He made it sound like Sullivan could very well still be the guy to lead the team through this build up back to becoming a contender.
"He's an elite-level coach as he's shown throughout his time here, and as he showed for Team USA," Dubas said. "There's always the point that very few coaches who are in that realm often want to see a team through this, but he's been very open about this is what he wants to do. We'll just continue to reaffirm that, and as long as he's on that side of it, then we'll roll with that."
Sullivan's tenure ends after becoming the winningest coach in franchise history with 409 wins behind the bench. His place in franchise history was already cemented long before that when he led the team to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.
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