Mike Sullivan's surprising exit leaves big questions in Pittsburgh

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 directionMike 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.

Penguins and coach Mike Sullivan agree to mutually part ways https://t.co/VN70QmFlQQ

— Rudy R. Reyes (@rudedogreyes) April 28, 2025

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 SullivanWhile 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.


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