How The Devils Hiring An Assistant Coach Could Land Them Mike Sullivan

Mike Sullivan, Paul Maurice, Rod Brind-Amour, Peter DeBoer, Jared Bednar and maybe Jon Cooper. That is the debatable list of “untouchable” coaches in the NHL, based on their abilities to lead from behind the bench.

However, the second-longest tenured coach (behind Cooper in Tampa Bay) may be the closest he has been to leaving the city of Pittsburgh, and it may not be up to the Fenway Sports Group.

Sullivan has had plenty of success during his time in Pittsburgh. He’s never had a season with a Points Percentage under .500, he won two Stanley Cups in his first two seasons at the helm, and he’s held sustained success with the same core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang for 9 seasons.

However, after three straight years with declining success, and several instances of Sullivan not seeing eye-to-eye with the Penguins’ upper-management, could this be the best time to mutually part ways?

Despite such stability at the top of the coaching chain in the Steel City, the assistant roles have been a game of musical chairs. Outside of the core, the roster has seen plenty of moving parts, not always for the better, and the Penguins even got new owners within the past three years.

But the most recent “parting ways” of associate coach Todd Reirden, who has been with the team for a total of 9 years, may be the last instance of Sullivan accepting another coaching change.

Reirden being the blame of this season is not without justification for new GM Kyle Dubas, as his main focus of the power play was more than underwhelming.

The Penguins finished 31st in the league in power play scoring and led the league in shorthanded goals allowed.

So, why would a team that just had the worst statistical power play in the NHL since the start of the New Year be wise to hire Reirden? To entice Sullivan with more of a say in the bigger decisions.

The Devils are without a head coach after a disappointing 2023-24 season themselves, finishing 7th in the Metropolitan after winning a playoff round in 2022.

With Lindy Ruff being relieved mid-season, and interim Head Coach Travis Greene not doing enough in his limited time to be given the permanent gig, New Jersey is looking for their fourth leader since John Hynes was let go in 2020.

The Devils desperately needed a new voice in the locker room heading into next season, preferably one that pushes this young team to be more physical. With Sullivan being by far the best coach available (if he truly is looking for a change of scenery), he would be able to change the identity of this high-flying offense.

The addition of Sullivan would be a welcome sight to Devils captain Nico Hischier in particular if the Devils snagged one of the best coaches in the game, who never seemed to have as good of a relationship with Ruff as Jack Hughes did.

Plus, with a history of developing centers like Crosby and Jake Guentzel, it’s likely that the two centerpieces of the franchise would welcome Sullivan with open arms.

It is far from a guarantee that bringing in Reirden would then attract Sullivan like cheese in a mouse trap. But, adding a defensive-minded coach to join a franchise he has yet to work for, thus making his role less on this team that it was in Pittsburgh, could have a positive impact on its own.

However, the upside of bringing in a coach like Sullivan outweighs the alternative of potentially adding someone to your coaching staff that is under qualified, because the Devils have to get it right with their next HC.

Winning in the first round of the playoffs against the Rangers after entering the playoffs that season without expectations put the Devils ahead of schedule. Last year’s step back was of course not ideal, but if it leads to a significant upgrade in coaching while you receive the best years of your superstars on team-friendly contracts, it can start a dynasty.

However, if your Head Coach does not capitalize the value of your talent, it could make 2022 a one-hit wonder.