Mike Sullivan Reflects on 10 Years Behind the Penguins' Bench
Photo credit: theScore.com
Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan spoke to the media about his time in Pittsburgh after last night's win, saying he has always and will always be grateful.
Mike Sullivan never possessed much of a backward glance. More of a present-tense kind of guy than a nostalgic type, the veteran coach rarely gazed in the rearview mirror at his own past.
This was true whether he played with the expansion San Jose Sharks as a bottom-six center in the early 1990s or during his two seasons as the Boston Bruins boss in the mid-2000s.
Even during his decade behind the bench in Pittsburgh, Sullivan kept his attention fixed on the next challenge rather than the memories.
"When I saw the schedule in the summertime, I was hoping we didn't (play the Penguins) until March," Sullivan quipped. "But it is what it is. It's something that I can't control. It's an inevitability. It's just part of the process. When the puck drops tonight, it's going to be a hockey game. We're going to do everything we can to try to win it.
"I'm excited about the group of players we have in New York. They're a great group of guys. I've really enjoyed the time that I've had to work with them until this point and our coaching staff as well. We have a lot of enthusiasm around our team right now, and we're excited about what we can potentially do moving forward."
"I'm excited about the group of players we have in New York. They're a great group of guys. I've really enjoyed the time that I've had to work with them until this point and our coaching staff as well. We have a lot of enthusiasm around our team right now, and we're excited about what we can potentially do moving forward."
On Saturday, however, he allowed himself a brief moment of reflection. Back in PPG Paints Arena with the New York Rangers, his new team and first NHL home as a draftee, Sullivan faced the Penguins as a visitor for the first time since leaving the organization in April.
"So grateful for the opportunity that I had here to coach the Penguins for the amount of time that I was able to do it," Sullivan said in a blue tracksuit against a Rangers backdrop near the visiting dressing room, approximately 200 feet from the home team's facilities. "We had a lot of good memories and I'm grateful for that."
Mike Sullivan's Departure From Pittsburgh Has Remained a Mystery to This Day
His exit, termed a "mutual parting," followed three straight seasons with no playoff visit. Just four days after, the Rangers hired him to coach from behind their bench.
In New York, Sullivan has remained with the methods that worked for him in his Pittsburgh stint. Rangers forward Conor Sheary, a former Penguin himself, is just one of many familiar faces to witness firsthand how well Sullivan's system works.
Sullivan's legacy in Pittsburgh is unthinkable. During the 10-year period, he is the franchise's all-time leader in victories with 409-255-89 and led the team to consecutive Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.
Although he departed quietly, Sullivan's association with the city has not vanished. In May, he sponsored billboard advertisements in Pittsburgh to thank fans, an unusual emotional move from a coach who prefers to think about tomorrow, not yesterday.
