Mike Sullivan's journey over the past year has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. After a decade with the Penguins, including two Stanley Cup victories, Sullivan parted ways with the team last April. While some reports suggested it was a mutual decision, others hinted at a firing by POHO/GM Kyle Dubas.
Sullivan quickly found a new home with the Rangers, a prestigious yet high-pressure role. However, the Rangers, much like Sullivan’s later Penguins teams, struggled with an aging core and limited young talent. Instead of a resurgence, Sullivan faced a challenging season, culminating in the Rangers trading top scorer Artemi Panarin.
Despite these setbacks, Sullivan achieved a significant triumph yesterday when his Team USA defeated Canada to win Olympic gold. This victory makes him only the second coach ever to win both a Stanley Cup and an Olympic gold medal, joining Canadian Mike Babcock. Notably, Sullivan is the first American-born coach to achieve this feat.
Sullivan and Team USA GM Bill Guerin crafted a gritty, unconventional lineup that could stand toe-to-toe with Canada. This strategy echoed the philosophy of Herb Brooks, the last USA coach to win Olympic gold, who famously said he was looking for the right players, not just the best ones.
Sullivan’s approach included giving Jack Hughes a more prominent role, despite Hughes’ previous struggles in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Sullivan’s colorful perspective was evident when he remarked, “This team was built with personality in mind… There are whiskey drinkers and milk drinkers, and we got a lot of whiskey drinkers.”
Congratulations to Sullivan on this remarkable achievement.
A Pittsburgh Connection
Team USA’s victory had a strong Pittsburgh flavor. Alongside Sullivan and Guerin, assistant coaches John Hynes and David Quinn, assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald, and forward Jake Guentzel all have ties to the Penguins. Jack Hughes, who scored the gold medal goal in overtime, was drafted first overall in 2019 by former Penguins GM Ray Shero.
Interestingly, the last US team to win Olympic gold, the Miracle on Ice squad, also had Pittsburgh connections. Pens draft picks Mark Johnson and Buzz Schneider were instrumental in their historic win over the Soviets. Craig Patrick, the architect of the Penguins’ first Stanley Cup winners, and Herb Brooks, who later coached the Penguins, were also part of that legendary team.
Sidney Crosby's Situation
As of now, the details of Sidney Crosby’s injury, believed to be related to his right knee or leg, remain unclear. His absence from the gold-medal game raises concerns about his condition.
Additionally, forwards Avery Hayes and Joona Koppanen were held out of the Baby Pens’ recent victory, possibly indicating that they might be called up to fill in for Crosby, suggesting he could miss some time.