Mike Sullivan Staying With Penguins Despite Tension
Mike Sullivan isn't going anywhere and will likely continue to work as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
PITTSBURGH – There has been some drama unfolding around Mike Sullivan, Kyle Dubas, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rumors of Sullivan wanting out while reports of a rift between him and Dubas have taken center stage in the early parts of the Penguins’ offseason.
The Penguins might need a change after a second straight season without a playoff appearance, and no series wins since 2018, but Sullivan likely won’t be among those adjustments. Despite the possible chasm, it seems almost certain Sullivan will return as Penguins head coach in 2024-25.
According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, seeing these reports and rumors is surprising.
“Someone had told me that they were surprised by all of this,” Friedman said. “They were under the impression that Sullivan and Dubas had sat down… and they talked about, ‘are we on the same page here going forward?’ The impression in the coaching fraternity is that they were.”
Dubas and Sullivan being on the same page tracks with what the two of them have said about each other all year in their first season working together. Dubas has backed Sullivan and his coaching ability on multiple occasions.
Multiple sources have indicated that the rift between Dubas and Sullivan may have formed thanks to discussions regarding the Penguins assistant coaches.
“Kyle Dubas wants Mike Sullivan to make changes to his coaching staff,” Emily Kaplan of ESPN said on The Drop. “And Mike Sullivan is a super, super loyal guy, and he doesn’t want that.”
Friedman has a similar angle in that the bad seasons of guys like Todd Reirden and Mike Vellucci have created some animosity.
Reirden has been the voice behind the Penguins power play, which hit a new low in 2023-24. A group that at times featured four sure-shot Hall of Famers finished the season 30th in the NHL with a 15.27 success rate.
While everyone has acknowledged some turbulence between the head coach and president of hockey operations, everyone has also agreed that Sullivan isn’t leaving the Penguins any time soon.
“I do think that Mike Sullivan is very loyal,” Kaplan said. “The chances that he leaves Pittsburgh, I would say, are slim. I think that they figure out their differences.”
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