Mike Sullivan, the two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, has been relieved of his duties after nearly a decade at the helm. This decision follows three consecutive seasons in which the team failed to qualify for the playoffs. Sullivan amassed 409 victories with the Penguins, the most in franchise history, and led the team to championships in 2016 and 2017. Despite his desire to remain as head coach during the team's retooling process around stars like Sidney Crosby, the front office, led by general manager Kyle Dubas, felt a change was necessary.

Dubas, who expressed a great deal of respect for Sullivan just a week prior, cited the need for alignment in vision for the team as a reason for the firing. Sullivan had a strong bond with key players, notably Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang, but the team's aging core has struggled to replicate past success. The Penguins' performance declined as they narrowly missed playoffs in 2023 and 2024. While the timing of Sullivan's dismissal was unexpected, it may position him as a top candidate for other coaching openings, including the New York Rangers.