The Daily: Penguins Fire Mike Sullivan; Rangers First In Line?

The Pittsburgh Penguins added a wild card to coaching searches around the NHL with Monday’s surprise firing of Mike Sullivan. The Pittsburgh organization release it on X just after 9 a.m.

Speculation immediately placed Sullivan as one of the favorites for the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins who are looking for a new coach.  Sullivan is a Massachusetts native who launched his NHL coaching career as Boston’s bench boss in 2003-04 and 2004-05.  He has been Pittsburgh’s coach for a decade, and took the team to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017.

However, the team has fallen on hard times lately, missing the playoffs for the last three seasons.

Since the news were announced this morning, there has been a buzz about the Rangers being interested in Sullivan as their replacement for the fired Peter Laviolette.

On the way to Mike Sullivan’s house right now, from NYR. pic.twitter.com/sBftW50M1d

— Ranting Rangers Podcast (@RantingRangers) April 28, 2025

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

Lucas Raymond joins Simon Edvinsson on Swedish team for World Championships. He was the third-highest scoring Swedish player this past season in the NHL.

Former Detroit player Todd Bertuzzi was hired as coach of the Cambridge junior B team in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

When the Red Wings get into the UFA market this summer, they need to find another David Perron, someone who can consistently produce 20 goals and 50 points.

Red Wings Extra

The Grand Rapids Griffins will start their post-season Tuesday in GR with Game 1 of a best-of-five series against the Texas Stars. The Griffins were 3-3-2-0 against Texas this season in eight games. Don’t forget that Detroit’s 2023 and 2024 first-round picks Axel Sandin Pellikka (2023, 17th) and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (15th, 2024) both joined the Griffins after their Swedish Hockey League season was completed.

Hockey Now Network

Chicago: Greg Boysen writes that Sullivan should be the Blackhawks’ leading candidate to fill their coaching vacancy. Chicago Blackhawks.

Florida: Paul Maurice responds to Tampa Bay Jon Cooper trolling him. Florida Panthers. 

Colorado: Aarif Deen compares this season’s Colorado forward group to the 2022 championship team. Colorado Avalanche. 

New Jersey: Punchless Devils’ power play leaves Devils on brink of postseason elimination. New Jersey Devils. 

Philadelphia: William James explores whether the Flyers should be pursuing Sullivan. Philadelphia Flyers.