“I would like to thank Mike Sullivan for his unwavering commitment and loyalty to the team and City of Pittsburgh over the past decade,” the Penguins general manager didn’t wait any longer to express his heartfelt gratitude to the man who had been the heart and soul of his franchise. Mike Sullivan didn’t just step into the tradition of training players to compete for the best but redefined the era of the Pittsburgh Penguins in his relentless pursuit of excellence. Two Stanley Cups, and the Pens community, have heard the noise of championship glory that feels more than distant now. But with Sullivan now gone from Pittsburgh, that isn’t the only change descending upon the NHL.

It isn’t rare to hear of players being given unprecedented bumper contracts, but now it’s time for change on the coaching side of things. “👀 Per my conversations w several team owners, executives and coaches ; given the timing, 7B + @NHL revenues and other factors, Sullivan can reset the coaches compensation market, does he get to, or eclipse the high watermark 7M per season ? #HockeyX,” wrote the two-time Emmy-nominated analyst Kevin Weekes, breaking the news on X. Sullivan’s departure will be felt not just on the ice but in the financial structure of the coaching contracts too. Now the question is, which team can shoulder his finances?

Nonetheless, even with the Penguins’ dismal season, Mike Sullivan’s departure represents the end of an era. His tenure will ultimately be remembered for the 2 back-to-back Stanley Cup wins in 2016 and 2017 and his transformation of the Penguins into a force to be reckoned with. “Mike is known for his preparation, focus, and fierce competitiveness. I was fortunate to have a front-row seat to his dedication to this franchise for the past two seasons,” Kyle Dubas said. “Not only for the impressive back-to-back Cups, his impact on the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Bryan Rust.”

Now what could happen next can shake up how these coaches are getting paid, after all. With most top coaches earning somewhere between five and six million dollars a year, hitting the seven-million mark will not be out of reach when the league’s most elite coach enters the free market, right? So, Mike Sullivan’s exit from the Penguins will not just get him a big payday but lift the bar for every coach in the league, allowing other coaches to ask for more. If Sullivan gets his bumper deal, it could redefine the salary structure for every coach in the league.

And now with Sullivan’s parting ways with his franchise, the question is, which team will be able to shoulder this financial burden?

It’s a race to land Mike Sullivan, but who are the contenders?

The question of Mike Sullivan’s next team has one obvious answer – the Boston Bruins. With the disappointing season they’ve had, a coaching change is almost a certainty, especially in light of GM Don Sweeney’s recent words: “I want a coach that’s going to evolve a little bit offensively, and again, that’s part and parcel with being able to communicate with sometimes younger players and their stubbornness or their inexperience.”

But as much as the Bruins are in need of a fresh face behind the bench, so are the Rangers. In fact, the Rangers may be the most well-equipped team to land Sullivan. “I’ve gotten messages from NHL general managers already this morning saying, ‘Does Mike Sullivan end up in New York today or tomorrow?’ I think it is one of those things that could be locked up within the next 42 to 78 hours,” said Frank Seravalli.

The Bruins represent the familiar option, with Mike Sullivan having already spent a stint coaching the team from 2003 to 2006. But the Rangers have been in hot pursuit of his services for some time now. In 2021, GM Chris Drury tried to sound out whether Sullivan would be open to a move to New York, as per The Athletic. With Sullivan uninterested, the Rangers had to pivot to Gerard Gallant, who lasted all of 2 years, after which was the equally short Peter Laviolette era.

But beyond Boston and New York, there’s the Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, and Vegas Golden Knights desperately looking to strengthen their bench leadership. However, as it stands, New York looks like the frontrunner. But regardless of where Mike Sullivan ends up, the team in question will almost certainly receive a strong boost, all for the small price of 7M per season.