Mike Sullivan has ended his tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins after a decade as head coach, but he leaves behind a token of appreciation. On Wednesday, Sullivan placed a billboard in Pittsburgh to express his gratitude to the team, its fans, and the city. This gesture comes shortly after he was appointed as the head coach of the New York Rangers on May 2, following his departure from the Penguins on April 28.
The billboard features an image of Sullivan lifting the Stanley Cup and reads: “Thank you, Pittsburgh. Cup family is forever. — Mike Sullivan.” During his time with the Penguins, Sullivan led the team to consecutive Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017. He was initially hired on December 12, 2015, replacing Mike Johnston.
Sullivan’s coaching record with Pittsburgh includes qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in his first seven seasons. However, he will not return after missing out for three consecutive years. He holds records for both most games won (409) and most games coached (753) in Penguins history.
Reflecting on nearly nine years with Pittsburgh last December 6, Sullivan expressed deep emotions about his experience. “Tough for me to put it into words,” he said at that time. “I mean, it’s been life-changing, this experience… From a career standpoint, it’s been a game-changer in so many ways. I am so privileged to have the opportunity to coach here in Pittsburgh. It’s a first-class organization.”
