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The Maple Leafs have hired Steve Sullivan as an assistant coach.
Following their inconsistent beginning to the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs made an adjustment to their coaching staff by dismissing assistant coach Marc Savard because of their 32nd-ranked power-play.
While there has been additional speculation about the job security of head coach Craig Berube, general manager Brad Treliving has announced that his employment isn’t in danger.
Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs have since announced a replacement for Savard, and it just so happens to be another former NHL forward. Steve Sullivan, who played 1,011 games with multiple teams, has been hired as their new assistant coach.
Since August 2024, Sullivan has served as an assistant coach with Toronto’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. This will be his first opportunity to serve behind the bench of an NHL team.
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Steve Sullivan Played In 154 Games With the Toronto Maple Leafs
Sullivan began his National Hockey League career with the New Jersey Devils, who made him their ninth-round (233rd overall) pick in the 1993 NHL Draft. Sullivan played 52 games with the Devils before he was eventually traded to the Maple Leafs along with defenceman Jason Smith and the playing rights to Alyn McCauley in exchange for Doug Gilmour, Dave Ellett, and a third-round draft pick.
It wouldn’t be long before he was recognized as the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for March after finishing the month with four goals, along with seven assists in the 11 games he played.
He eventually requested a trade, and was placed on waivers; he would subsequently be claimed by the Chicago Blackhawks, where he would play until the 20024 NHL Trade Deadline, when he was sent to the Nashville Predators.
Sullivan helped the Predators advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time, where he would score a goal while adding an assist in their opening-round six-game loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
Sullivan continued his NHL career with the Predators, playing another five seasons with the club before opting to move on by signing a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011.
He played one final season in the NHL split between the Arizona Coyotes and the Devils, by whom he was originally drafted. He started and ended his career with the Devils, and his 16 years and 45 days between tenures with one team was the third longest in NHL history.
In 1,011 career NHL games, Sullivan tallied 290 goals with 457 assists, and also added nine goals with 14 assists in 50 career playoff games.
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Toronto’s Power-Play Is Ranked Last In The NHL
At the time of Savard’s dismissal, he had overseen Toronto’s NHL-worst power-play, converting at just 13 percent efficiency. Through December 14, the Maple Leafs had scored just 12 power-play goals on 92 opportunities.
For the one game since Savard’s firing, a 6-3 victory by the Maple Leafs over the Pittsbrugh Penguins, there was some initial confusion as to who on Toronto’s staff would take over the power-play responsibilities, which head coach Craig Berube cleared up afterward.
“The PP stuff — I know that Brad is talking about [Derek Lalonde] having it, but what I meant is that the staff is looking at everything together,” he said. “Is he running the meetings? Yes. We will have to make a decision on what we are going to do on the power play.”
“Just so that is clear. I don’t want you to think we are not talking about this stuff beforehand.”
Sullivan’s first game as a Leafs assistant coach will come against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday evening.
Michael Whitaker Michael Whitaker is a sports journalist based in metro Detroit with nearly a full decade of experience with publications like Clutch Points and The Hockey News. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Eastern Michigan University. More about Michael Whitaker
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