Mike Sullivan, the coach of the Penguins in the Four Nations Faceoff with Team USA, has been dismissed. Contemplating potential future employment for Sullivan.
Rewritten Article:
Mike Sullivan, the former coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Team USA during the recent Four Nations Faceoff, has been let go by his NHL club following a decade in the Steel City.
In a surprising move announced by Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas on Monday, the team bids farewell to Sullivan after six trips to the Stanley Cup finals, and back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017.
Dubas said, "This wasn't a decision taken lightly, but as we push forward with the Penguins in this transitional period, we felt it was the best course forward for everyone involved."
With coaching changes happening frequently in the NHL, the search is on for a new leader for several teams. Among the coaches available, Mike Sullivan is a hot commodity.
But with only one Sullivan to go around, who should he consider coaching next? Let's narrow it down to the top three most suitable teams.
New York Rangers
Sullivan took on the Pittsburgh job in 2015 with the challenge of ensuring that Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, both near their 30s, didn't squander their potential.
In his first year, he clinched a Cup, and the next year, he added another to his belt. While Crosby and Malkin’s Hall-of-Fame careers may not be entirely due to Sullivan, he undoubtedly played a significant role in their legacies.
Similarly, the Rangers find themselves with an aging core that has struggled to reach the top. Hiring Sullivan might not guarantee a championship, but he's shown he can deliver one with older, elite players.
Boston Bruins
The Bruins face the opposite challenge as the Rangers. In a rebuilding phase after trading multiple veterans, Boston has stockpiled draft picks and young players.
With a fresh roster, Sullivan could mold these young players to fit his style, complementing proven offensive talent like David Pastrnak. Plus, the top defenseman, Charlie McAvoy, is Sullivan's son-in-law, which could be a strong personal motivation for him to coach in Boston.
Philadelphia Flyers
If Sullivan wants to make a big splash in the NHL, coaching the Flyers could do just that. The Flyers-Penguins rivalry is one of the fiercest in the league, so deploying Sullivan to the Flyers' bench would be a major headline.
The Flyers only need top-tier goaltending to become a title-contender; their defensive core is one of the best in the league, and young star Matvei Michkov promises to be a Top-10 offensive threat.
Between the Rangers' roster poised for success and the Bruins' family ties, Sullivan has some tough decisions to make. The choice could also depend on his desire for immediacy or family matters. No matter what, his next coaching move is sure to shake up the NHL.
- Given his past success with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Mike Sullivan could potentially lead the rebuilding Boston Bruins, with his son-in-law Charlie McAvoy adding a personal connection.
- As the New York Rangers face a similar challenge to the Penguins, with an aging core struggling to reach the top, Sullivan's proven track record of delivering success with older, elite players makes him a strong candidate.
- If Sullivan is looking to make a significant impact in the league, coaching the Philadelphia Flyers may provide the opportunity to revitalize the historic Flyers-Penguins rivalry and help the Flyers become title contenders with their strong defensive core and promising offensive talent.
- By 2025, the NHL may see a new, powerful team under Mike Sullivan's leadership, whether it's the Rangers, Bruins, or Flyers, as he makes a crucial decision in his next coaching move.
