The Toronto Maple Leafs AHL affiliate has named Timmins product Steve Sullivan as an assistant on coach John Gruden’s staff for the upcoming 2024-25 campaign. Sullivan is a longtime NHL player, who most recently was assistant general manager with the Arizona Coyotes organization. FILE PHOTO SunMedia
Thomas Perry
The Daily Press/Postmedia Network
Timmins product Steve Sullivan played 154 NHL regular-season games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and he has returned to the historic organization as an assistant coach with its AHL affiliate.
The Marlies announced on Thursday the addition of the 50-year-old Sullivan to coach John Gruden’s staff for the upcoming 2024-25 AHL campaign.
Sullivan joins a Marlies’ staff that also includes assistant coach Michael Dyck, goaltending coach Hannu Toivonen and video coach Troy Paquette.
In addition to the Maple Leafs, Sullivan played for the New Jersey Devils, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Nashville Predators, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Phoenix Coyotes during his 1,011-game NHL career (290 goals, 457 assists, 747 points, 587 penalty minutes). He also appeared in 50 playoffs games (nine goals, 14 assists, 23 points, 30 penalty minutes) and won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy during the 2008-09 campaign.
Sullivan retired following the 2012-13 season, ending his NHL run where it started — with the Devils.
Following his playing career, Sullivan went to work for the Coyotes organization, signing on as a development coach on Sept. 8, 2014. Then he became director of player development on May 26, 2016, and the following year was named as assistant general manager under GM John Chayka. His duties included overseeing the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners.
When Chayka was let go by the Coyotes, Sullivan was named interim general manager on July 26, 2020. He was let go by the organization, however, after Bill Armstrong was hired to replace Chayka.
Sullivan’s Junior ‘A’ hockey career started with his hometown Golden Bears (now Rock) during the 1991-92 campaign and he has served as a senior advisor with the NOJHL squad since its move back to Timmins from Iroquois Falls.
