Mike Sullivan to New Jersey? The Devil(s) You Say.
Apparently there was a rumor (since squashed) circulating through the hockey universe that Penguins coach Mike Sullivan might have an interest in joining old friend and Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald in New Jersey…and vice versa. A rumor that was promptly doused with a bucket of ice water by Kyle Dubas in a text to Rob Rossi of The Athletic.
“There have been no requests or permissions granted,” stated the Pens’ GM.
Darn.
I, for one, would be perfectly amenable to Sullivan switching employers, in the process nulling and voiding the three-year extension he signed with us in August of 2022.
My reasons? After eight-plus seasons of Sully hockey, the Pens need a change. We need a new voice, a new or at the very least updated system, and a more kid-friendly coach. Hanging on to Sully for three more seasons of the same old, same old is only going to prolong the agony of the last two.
We also need an organizational shift in the type of player we pursue. We need to be grittier and more competitive.