Mike Sullivan’s surprising exit leaves big questions in Pittsburgh

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 28, 2025, 22:41 IST

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Mike Sullivan's time as head coach of the Penguins is at an end after nearly 10 years. While his record and rapport with players like Sidney Crosby were good, the team wanted a fresh start. General Manager Kyle Dubas said it was a difficult but necessary choice. Mike Sullivan should be receiving a new coaching job in the near future, while the Penguins move on.

Mike Sullivan’s surprising exit leaves big questions in Pittsburgh (Image Source: Getty Images)

Mike Sullivan's period as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins is over. The team released him after they didn't make the playoffs for the third straight season. Mike Sullivan won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins and has the most wins among any coach in franchise history. Though he liked to stay, the team's management thought it was time for a change to help the Penguins build for the future.

Mike Sullivan’s exit signals major shift in Pittsburgh direction

Mike Sullivan, 57, had two years left on his contract. He simply said he wanted to stay and start a new chapter with star Sidney Crosby. General Manager Kyle Dubas, however, wanted to ensure they were on the same page. After negotiations, the Penguins decided it was time to move in another direction.

Mike Sullivan arrived at the Penguins in December of 2015. He replaced Mike Johnston and made the team great once again very soon. Under Mike Sullivan, the Penguins were a dominant playoff team for a couple of years.
But over time, the players aged and struggled to continue winning. Changes in team management also made it more difficult. Although Crosby played extremely well at 37 years old, the Penguins were out of the playoffs very early this season.

Penguins shift focus to youth after parting with Mike Sullivan

While Mike Sullivan has a tremendous history with the Penguins, the team believed that they needed something different. Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Penguins, always liked Mike Sullivan a tremendous amount. That just made it harder. But the team believes they need to give younger players a chance.
Mike Sullivan is one of the best coaches in the world currently. Players like the New York Rangers would certainly be eager for his services. With two Stanley Cups in hand and experience working with superstars, he won't take long to get hired again.
Also Read: Mike Sullivan out as Penguins head coach

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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