Jim Rutherford accidentally reveals where Mike Sullivan could be coaching next year
Vancouver Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford let it slip where now-former Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan could land for next year.
The Pittsburgh Penguins became the latest team earlier this week to officially have a vacancy behind the bench, as general manager Kyle Dubas announced that they would not be bringing back Mike Sullivan.
Sullivan had been one of the longest-tenured head coaches in the NHL since his arrival in Pittsburgh in December 2015; he helped the Penguins win consecutive Stanley Cups and keep them in contention for years after that, but they've missed the playoffs in each of the last 3 years.
That being said, there will be no shortage of job opportunities for Sullivan to consider moving forward. Not only do the Vancouver Canucks (where Sullivan once served as an assistant)
now have a head coaching vacancy after the departure of Rick Tocchet, but the New York Rangers do as well after they terminated Peter Laviolette.
Additionally, the Boston Bruins are considering candidates after they went 3/4 of the year with assistant Joe Sacco as interim head coach after the dismissal of Jim Montgomery in late November.
Per Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, Sullivan isn't coming back to Vancouver and would actually
prefer to remain on the East Coast for family reasons.
When you're familiar with somebody, you know how they work, and there are positives and negatives. I know my good friend Mike Sullivan does not want to leave the East. He's a real good family man. I talked to him yesterday - not about coming here. Talked to him when he left Pittsburgh, and I know he wants to stay in the East.
Given this new revelation, it's likely that Sullivan will land with either the Boston Bruins or New York Rangers.
Previously on Bladeofsteel
POLL |
AVRIL 30 | 228 ANSWERS Jim Rutherford accidentally reveals where Mike Sullivan could be coaching next year Where will Mike Sullivan coach next year? |
Boston Bruins | 54 | 23.7 % |
New York Rangers | 128 | 56.1 % |
Other | 46 | 20.2 % |
List of polls |