The Toronto Maple Leafs revealed on Friday that Steve Sullivan has been added to their coaching team. This development followed the earlier dismissal of Marc Savard, the assistant coach in charge of the power play, which was last in the NHL at the time of his firing.
During their 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Leafs did not have a direct replacement on the bench. However, the coaching team emphasized their intent to explore long-term solutions for improving the power play. Ultimately, Sullivan was promoted from the Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, where he specialized in enhancing individual skills and offensive tactics. Notably, the Marlies’ power play currently ranks 22nd in the AHL with a 16% efficiency.
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that Sullivan’s power play duties will be shared as he acclimates to the NHL level.
Sullivan, a familiar face in Toronto, played 154 games over four seasons with the Maple Leafs. He joined the team in 1997 through a major trade that sent popular player Doug Gilmore to the New Jersey Devils. His skills and speed helped him adapt as the NHL evolved from its “dead puck” era.
After retiring from playing, Sullivan moved into the Arizona Coyotes’ front office and eventually became their director of player development. Following GM John Chayka’s sudden resignation, Sullivan was appointed interim GM until Bill Armstrong succeeded him.
During his interim GM period, Sullivan managed the 2020 NHL Draft, which included the controversial pick of Mitchell Miller with the 111th selection. Miller’s past racial bullying of a classmate with developmental disabilities caused significant backlash, leading to the withdrawal of the pick. Sullivan bore much of the criticism and parted ways with the Coyotes in 2021.
Sullivan returned to coaching in 2024, joining Jon Gruden’s staff with the Marlies after Rich Clune left for a coaching role with the Anaheim Ducks. His primary mission now is to revive the Maple Leafs’ struggling power play.
Fan Take: This move is a crucial step for the Maple Leafs, who have been desperate to fix their power play woes that have hampered their playoff hopes. For hockey fans, Sullivan’s return brings fresh hope that his skill development expertise and NHL experience can transform the Leafs’ offensive consistency and make the team a genuine contender.
