NHL Rumor Mill – April 29, 2025
Who are potential candidates to replace Mike Sullivan as the Penguins’ head coach? Which clubs could be suitors for Sullivan? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.
POTENTIAL COACHING CANDIDATES FOR THE PENGUINS
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW: Bill Hartlep included former NHL coaches Joel Quenneville, Peter Laviolette and John Tortorella on his list of potential candidates to replace Mike Sullivan as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Sullivan and the Penguins mutually agreed to part ways after 10 seasons, including back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017.
Hartlep also mentioned Rick Tocchet, David Quinn and Mike Vellucci, who all served at one time or another as assistant coaches under Sullivan. He included University of Denver coach David Carle.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Tocchet is currently the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks and is reportedly in contract extension talks with that club.
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Matt Vensel had Tocchet, Carle and Quinn among his list of coaching candidates.
Other options included former Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill, PWHL coach Kori Cheverie, Western Michigan coach Pat Ferschweiler, Rickard Gronberg of Tappara in Finnish Liga, Washington Capitals assistant coach Mitch Love, Manny Malhotra of the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, Boston University’s Jay Pandolfo, Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coach Mike Van Ryn, and former Edmonton Oilers’ coach Jay Woodcroft.
THE ATHLETIC: Penguins beat writer Josh Yohe included Kirk MacDonald of the club’s AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on his list of candidates. Todd Nelson of the AHL’s Hershey Bears was another suggested option.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Time will tell if one of those candidates get the job. The Penguins could be interested in bringing back Tocchet if he becomes available, but they won’t be the only suitors for the 2024 Jack Adams Award winner.
POTENTIAL DESTINATIONS FOR MIKE SULLIVAN
NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks believes the Rangers’ vacant head-coaching job is there for Mike Sullivan if he wants it, but questions remain.
Former Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan (NHL Images).
Sullivan might be the best choice to get the most out of veteran core players like Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller, the latter four of whom played for him on Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February.
However, his handling of younger players like Alexis Lafreniere, K’Andre Miller, Brennan Othmann, Braden Schneider and more would determine his success as the Blueshirts’ bench boss.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Brooks also wondered if the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars might be interested in Sullivan.
PHILLY HOCKEY NOW: William James pondered whether Sullivan would be a good fit coaching the rebuilding Flyers.
CHICAGO HOCKEY NOW: Greg Boysen makes the case for the Blackhawks to pursue Sullivan.
BOSTON HOCKEY NOW‘s Andrew Fantucchio and THE ATHLETIC‘s Fluto Shinzawa believe Sullivan should be the top choice as the Bruins’ potential head coach.
RG.ORG: James Murphy reports a source claiming the Bruins have already reached out to Sullivan. However, the former Penguins coach wants to take some time to decompress before deciding on his next move.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Sullivan remained a well-respected coach around the league despite the rebuilding Penguins’ struggles over the past three seasons. He won’t be unemployed for long.
OTHER PENGUINS SPECULATION
THE ATHLETIC: Josh Yohe was asked which restricted free agents he sees the Penguins targeting this summer. He suggested defenseman Bowen Byram of the Buffalo Sabres.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yohe stressed that Byram would be his choice and wasn’t basing it on anything he’d heard.
He didn’t indicate if he meant targeting Byram for a trade or an offer sheet. Assuming the latter, the Sabres have over $21 million in cap space to match any offer for the 23-year-old blueliners.
Yohe doesn’t see the Penguins attempting to acquire Elias Pettersson from the Vancouver Canucks. “It looks like a disaster of a contract, and he’s not very well respected around the league.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pettersson has seven years left on his contract with an average annual value of $11.6 million. Assuming Vancouver retained some of his cap hit, that contract remains burdensome. If the Canucks try to move him they’ll have to move quickly because his no-movement clause begins on July 1.
don’t think Torterella will ever run an NHL bench again after his flame out in Philly
I predict Sullivan –> NYR, David Carle –> ANA and Rick Tocchet –> PIT
highly doubt Quenneville gets hired this season, too much of PR debacle (even though Bowman has settled in in EDM)
Bowman is also mostly invisible to what could be orally hostile crowds, high up in his box.
Quenneville, behind a bench and a constant reminder to that element not inclined to forgive , is a different story.
I could care less whether or not he has “paid his debt” … that young man who was the victim will carry those scars for the rest of his life!
So, too, should Quenneville (and Bowman for that matter – just another monumental gaffe by the Oilers organization who seem to be good at it).
Agree 100% George.
Beach wasn’t the only victim, there is also the teenager at a Michigan school who Aldrich also assaulted while coaching there. He as hired after receiving a letter of recommendation from the Blackhawks. After they knew. Think about that.
Q also gave Aldrich a good performance evaluation AFTER he was aware of what happened.
This isn’t about PR, it isn’t about winning hockey games, it’s about accountability and doing what is right, or doing what is wrong.
The punishment needs to fit the crime, all he and Bowman and anyone else had to do was speak up, and that teenager doesn’t get sexually assaulted by a known predator. That’s it.
He is financially set for life and he doesn’t get to coach in the NHL again. Poor Q, I hope he will be OK. Work somewhere else like the KHL if you spent your money. He is a spineless POS. He covered up a crime and allowed another one to happen. To a teenager. And yes I have the same opinion of Bowman in Edmonton.
When the hell did we forget the victims? Seriously, WTF.
And if I was a player on that team, I would let my thoughts be known. Best be talking to them if you are considering hiring Q, as I would bet more than a few of them have the same opinion as I do.
Amen brother !!
The thing with Quenneville is, does he accept responsibility for his actions and has he taken steps to ensure it won’t happen again? If he can honestly say yes to both, then give him an opportunity to return. As a victim of sexually assault I believe that people make mistakes. It’s what they do after that determines the quality of person they are. I’m not saying he should get a chance to coach again, I’m just saying that people deserve a second chance. What’s the old saying? If it weren’t for second chances we wouldn’t have refried beans!
Cannot agree, Ed. When the incident became known, and he obviously weighed in his mind the potential consequences of a continued job with the Hawks if he openly decried what happened, he chose to zip his lip and hoped it would all blow over.
What’s also obvious is that, had he acted responsibly and taken the proper course of action, even if it had cost him that job. he could be essentially writing his own ticket as a man who put integrity ahead of personal position at the time.
With that sort of pea-brained approach in deciding to join the cover-up, why should anyone believe him now if he expressed mea culpa and did what you suggest?
Second chance? What second chance is open for the victim? Someone who robs to feed a family deserves a second chance. Someone who makes a career out of robbery deserves what he gets.
I suggest your statement that Stan « Bowman has settled in in Edmonton » is a very unfortunate reality. Most recently at the trade deadline, Stan went on record to declare the Oilers were entirely satisfied with their goaltending. He obviously has player evaluation issues as it’s painfully obvious the Oilers have serious shortcomings in that key playoff position.
Stan Bowman was well connected to land with the Oilers but his past record with Chicago did not justify his hiring as he pretty well inherited a Stanley Cup bound team built by Dale Talon.
After the disastrous tenure of Peter Chiarelli, the fossilized leadership of Ken Holland and now the questionable management of Bowman, is it any wonder the Oiler faithful, and there are many, are not 100% behind the organization.
Tess, agree on much of that.
But, Holland did an excellent job overall, knowing that nobody bats a 1000.
I don’t know if he was planning to retire or what, but IMO they would be better off today if he had stayed.
100% agree.
Bowman was not wanted by the Oilers faithfil but the furor has died down.
Broberg and Holloway are Stans poor evaluation like the goalies.
Petey ($2.6M retained) and Juulsen for Norris + Clifton + the Wild 4th
A name to watch in Boston is Jay Leach. Assistant in Boston this year. Worked in Seattle for 2 years. Previous to that coached Providence Bruins. Reportedly his strength is developing young players a route that Boston looks to be going in!Boston not a big player in high salary coaches.
Sullivan to NY should be a lock. Was drafted by Rangers. Spent time here as an assistant. US born, which low key I think Drury prefers. Shouldn’t take long. If not, would have to be considered a loss for Drury.
RIck Tocchet (if not extended by Vancouver) and Peter Laviolette would be logical candidates for the Penguins.
Another coach not listed, and if he would like to coach again, is Gerard Gallant.
Regarding the Penguins coaching options: Tocchet, yes. Laviolette, Gallant, Bylsma, Cronin, Tortorella and any number of other rehashes and recycles (including Quenneville), no… except maybe Bruce Boudreau. Carle would be preferred.
But that’s just me, and I don’t make decisions for them.
Well, if they hired Laviolette, at least the gum sales in and around Pittsburgh would elevate considerably.
On a more positive note, perhaps, am a Sens and Olier fan tonight.
Yes, me as well LJ.
I think the Leafs bring their best tonight, Sens need Ullmark to play really well to get another win IMO. Which is entirely possible.
Oilers vs Kings, I have absolutely no idea what to expect.
We can hope, Ray. Going strictly by the goals scored averages over 4 games played in both series:
Toronto 4 – Ottawa 3 (and likely OT which will drive the outside crowd delirious)
L.A. 5 Edmonton 4 – possibly also in OT.
Well if we’re doing Oil vs Kings predictions, I will go 1-0 shutout in the Oil’s favor.
Kidding!
5-4 Oilers, with the Oil coming close to blowing a late lead. Up 5-2 going into the 3rd and barely hang on for a victory just to keep it stressful for Edmontonians.
Tochett not going back to Vancouver
Next B’s HC… R Tochett
NY Rangers
https://www.nyrangersinsider.com/nhl-team/new-york-rangers/respected-new-york-rangers-insider-predicts-rick-tocchet-next-coaching-spot-will-be-in-the-metro-division
George. Didn’t click it. But. Pens rangers flyers possibly isles need a coach in metro. So saying he might end up on one of 50 percent of teams loot or a coach is a smart gamble. Perhaps the article went further.
Joe I d be OK with that.
With that decision by Tochett, there are now EIGHT teams needing a coach – Anaheim, Boston, Chicago. NYR, Philadelphia, Seattle, Pittsburgh and Vancouver. That’s a full quarter of the League!
Some will probably hire from the re-tread heap, while a couple might see fit to give someone new to the head-coaching ranks a shot.
Their may be more after the playoffs.
Who says Quennville is still a good coach. Many better than him have been fired since. Retire
100% Sullivan to the Rangers . Love was close to he Calgary job last year.
and You have to think Pandalfo knows a thing or two.
😵💫