The Pittsburgh Penguins have parted ways with head coach Mike Sullivan after missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season, finishing with a 34-36-12 record. Sullivan, who took over the team in December 2015, initially led the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017. Despite his early success, the Penguins have struggled in recent years, either losing in the first playoff round or failing to qualify entirely, marking the first losing record under Sullivan's leadership. At 57, Sullivan is not expected to retire and is likely to be considered for head coaching positions with other NHL teams, with the Bruins, Rangers, and Flyers being potential candidates. Sullivan's previous experience includes coaching the Bruins and playing for Boston University and the Bruins in the late 1990s.

Mike Sullivan was dismissed from his role as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins after the team failed to make the playoffs for the third year in a row, ending the season in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division.

Sullivan began his tenure with the Penguins in December 2015, swiftly transforming the team's fortunes by leading them to consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017.

Despite the early triumphs, the Penguins' performance declined, with the team either exiting early in the playoffs or not qualifying at all over the past seven seasons, culminating in a losing record this year.

Although Sullivan is 57 years old and has had a successful career, he is not expected to retire; instead, he is likely to pursue coaching opportunities with other NHL teams, such as the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, or Philadelphia Flyers.

Sullivan's career background includes coaching for the Boston Bruins and playing for Boston University and the Bruins, making a return to Boston a feasible option given his history and connections there.

The decision to relieve Sullivan of his duties comes after the Penguins' consistent underperformance since their last significant playoff run, highlighting the team's need for a new direction.

Teddy Ricketson, a digital content producer at The Sporting News, reported on this development, noting Sullivan's significant contributions to the Penguins and his potential future in the NHL coaching landscape.

The Penguins and long-time head coach Mike Sullivan have decided to part ways, the team announced. Pittsburgh finished the 2024-2025 season with a 34-36-12 record in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year. 

Sullivan took over as the Penguins' head coach in December 2015. He had been hired in June of that year to be the head coach of the organization's AHL Affiliate. After Pittsburgh fired Mike Johnston following a 15-10-3 start to the season. Sullivan took over and the franchise quickly turned around its fortunes. He not only led them to a Stanley Cup win that season, but followed it up with a second consecutive Cup in the 2016-2017 season. 

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Here is more on Sullivan's firing. 

Mike Sullivan fired

Sullivan started off his coaching career in Pittsburgh red hot. He set the bar extremely high with not only back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, but with Stanley Cup wins. That ended up being the Penguins' best finishes under Sullivan. Pittsburgh made the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in the 2017-2018 season, but either lost in the first round or missed the playoffs in each of the last seven seasons. 

The final straw came this season. The Penguins not only missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season, but finished seventh in the Metropolitan Division with a 34-36-12 record. It was the first time that a Sullivan-led team had a losing record, not counting overtime losses. 

MORE NHL: Tracking NHL head coach firings

Mike Sullivan coaching record

Here is a look at Sullivan's season-by-season results as Pittsburgh's head coach.

*COVID-19 shortened season

What's next for Sullivan?

Sullivan is 57 years old. He has had enough success coaching that he could look at retiring, but that doesn't seem to be the most likely. Sullivan has plenty of experience coaching in the AHL, but it feels like with the other openings around the NHL that he will land somewhere. 

The Bruins, Rangers, and Flyers are among the teams needing a new head coach. Boston feels like a possible option since Sullivan has already had a stop there. He went 41 wins, 19 losses, 15 ties and seven overtime losses in his first season with the Bruins in the 2003-2004 season. Sullivan took a step back in his second season, and Boston finished with a 29-37-16 record. The franchise brought in a new GM, and he decided to bring in a new regime, resulting in Sullivan getting fired. He is also from Marshfield, Massachusetts, played for Boston University from 1986-1990, and then for the Bruins in the 1997-1998 season.