Former 1000-Game Penguins Veteran Lands Coaching Job with Maple Leafs

Steve Sullivan is working his way up the NHL ladder. The former Pittsburgh Penguins winger has just been named an assistant coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the club confirmed Friday.

At 51, Sullivan spent the 2024-25 season guiding Toronto's AHL farm club, the Marlies.

He joins the Leafs' staff after the dismissal of Marc Savard, at a moment when Craig Berube's team sits near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, struggling to find consistency and cohesion on both ends of the ice, and searching for ways to spark their offense and tighten their defensive game.

The 5-foot-9 native of Timmins, Ontario, played 1,011 NHL games over 16 seasons with the Leafs, Devils, Blackhawks, Predators, Penguins, and Coyotes.

Since retiring as a player, he has worked in player development and as an assistant general manager with the Coyotes, giving him a mix of on-ice and front-office experience. This promotion couldn't come at a better time for Toronto.

The way he developed the young players within the Marlies, along with his vast knowledge of hockey and ability to connect with players, may be exactly what the Leafs need to help them get through the hard season, strengthen their lineup, and end up higher in the standings.

We wish Sullivan the best in his new role in Toronto, except for the time his team ends up taking on the Penguins!