NHL Rumors: HC Mike Sullivan contacted by 5 teams following Penguins exit

The Mike Sullivan sweepstakes are off and running.

Just 24 hours after the shocking news that the Pittsburgh Penguins had decided to part ways with their longtime coach, teams around the league are jumping at the rare opportunity to snatch him off the market.

Sullivan led the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017 and is one of the most respected head coaches in hockey. His championship pedigree and coaching ability have drawn interest from nearly every team with a current vacancy.

TSN hockey insider Pierre LeBrun provided an update on Sullivan on Tuesday afternoon:

"Five teams have already inquired about free-agent coach Mike Sullivan. No surprise there given his stature in the coaching world. My sense is some called tire kicking, curious, others very much with serious interest. He won’t be out of work for too long."

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Sullivan had just completed the first season of a three-year extension signed with the Penguins in 2022. He's now a free agent, available to sign wherever he wants this offseason.

The Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks and Seattle Kraken are all searching for a new head coach and will likely check in to gauge his interest.

The Rangers and Bruins appear to be front-runners for Mike Sullivan

The New York Rangers and Boston Bruins could wind up battling for Sullivan.

NHL insider Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff shared what he's hearing regarding Sullivan's future while on "Morning Cuppa Hockey."

"I'd rank it Rangers one, (and Bruins) a very distant second," Seravalli said.

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Both teams would make plenty of sense for Sullivan. The Rangers have long been rumored to be enamored with the decorated coach, while the Bruins have familiarity with Sullivan and his family.

The 57-year-old will want to join a team in win-now mode, so it will be up to his judgment to decide whether he has a better chance to compete in New York or Boston.

It will be an interesting few days and weeks to see where everyone lands in the coaching carousel around the NHL.

About the author

Jackson Weber is an NHL journalist at Sportskeeda with a Bcomm degree in Business and Sport Management from the University of Guelph.

Jackson has grown up as a lifelong Pittsburgh Penguins fan. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are his all-time favorite players. Watching the Penguins win the Stanley Cup three times is an experience that Jackson will never forget. Years later, you realize how rare it is to see your favorite team win even once, so three championships were just incredible.

When not watching, playing, or writing about sports, Jackson loves to cook and is passionate about health and nutrition.

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Edited by Jackson Weber