New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald has conducted much of his search for a new head coach in silence. Rumors of candidates being considered, let alone being interviewed, have been scarce. Devils fans have kept an eye on the Pittsburgh Penguins, hoping head coach Mike Sullivan may be cut loose as general manager Kyle Dubas looks to remake the team with the hope of another run to the Stanley Cup for Sidney Crosby. In his public statements, Dubas has been unequivocal in supporting Sullivan and his desire to move forward with Sullivan as his coach. Case closed, right? Not exactly.
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Nick Kypreos believes Sullivan may be looking for a way to leave Pittsburgh and join his good friend and former Penguins assistant general manager, Fitzgerald, in New Jersey. (‘Why pick on Mitch Marner? The Maple Leafs star needs to step up — but so do his teammates,’ Toronto Star, April 26, 2024.) Sullivan is starting a three-year extension set to keep him in Pittsburgh through the 2026-27 season, so any movement is not simple. Most coaches and administrators believe that every head coach has a shelf life, especially if the team’s core does not have much turnover. Perhaps Sullivan is edging towards that expiration date in Pittsburgh, where players need a new voice in the room and Sullivan needs a new challenge in the form of a new group of players.
“If you don’t have Sully, then you’re looking for Sully.”
Kyle Dubas on his Pittsburgh Radio Show
There is always the possibility Dubas will allow Sullivan to walk away from his contract so Dubas can put his stamp on the team he took over last season. But thinking the Penguins will allow Sullivan to walk away and take over a Metropolitan Division rival poised to be successful seems naive. Before turning the keys over to Sullivan, the Devils must be sure he is the correct coach to get the team to the next step.
Hiring Sullivan Is a No-Brainer
The Devils are not a finished product, but they have one of the best young cores in the NHL, with two superstar centermen, two high-performing wingers, and two burgeoning superstar defensemen. When Sullivan took over the Penguins 28 games into the 2015-16 season, he inherited a team with superstars in their prime who had won a Stanley Cup six seasons earlier but never returned. He guided the Penguins to back-to-back championships in his first two campaigns with the team. He brings a unique blend of demanding…
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