Frontrunner Emerges to Replace Mike Sullivan as Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins
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Photo credit: Maple Leafs Daily
Per reports, the Pittsburgh Penguins already have a name in mind whom they want to take over behind the bench after parting ways with Mike Sullivan earlier today.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have parted ways with former Stanley Cup-winning head coach Mike Sullivan earlier today, bringing an end to one of the longest tenures as a head coach in the NHL.
Sullivan had been behind Pittsburgh's bench since December of 2015, replacing the terminated Mike Johnston and immediately leading them to consecutive Stanley Cup wins. He also helped keep them a playoff contender for several years after that, but the franchise has fallen on hard times by missing the postseason the last 3 straight years.
Dubas indicated that he'll be casting "a wide net" in his search for Pittsburgh's new head coach, but a newly released report from a Penguins insider indicates that a frontrunner may already be considered.
Per Josh Yohe of The Ahletic, Dubas could try and entice former Penguins assistant and current Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet to return to Pittsburgh.
he cited not only the respect that team captain Sidney Crosby has for Tocchet and his experience as part of the 2016 and 2017 championship coaching staff, but also that he and Dubas worked together with Team Canada during the 4 Nations Faceoff in February.
Dubas and Tocchet both worked for Team Canada during the 4 Nations Face-Off. Dubas, who is the general manager of Team Canada at the upcoming World Championships in Sweden, recently stated on a podcast that he was hopeful Tocchet would be interested in coaching Canada in Sweden (he turned down the offer, citing his uncertain situation in Vancouver).
Tocchet, who won the Jack Adams Trophy as the NHL's top head coach in 2023-24, has a career record of 286-265-87.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 28 | 247 ANSWERS Frontrunner Emerges to Replace Mike Sullivan as Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins Do you want to see the Penguins hire Rick Tocchet as their next head coach? | ||
| Yes | 129 | 52.2 % |
| No | 118 | 47.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
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