Jim Rutherford just can’t help himself when it comes to spilling the beans. The Vancouver Canucks president is famous for saying exactly what’s on his mind, and he was at it again Tuesday when talking about Rick Tocchet’s departure as head coach.
But the real bombshell? Rutherford casually dropped a hint about where former Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan might be heading next – somewhere on the east coast.
This wasn’t just random speculation. Rutherford and Sullivan go way back, having won two Stanley Cups together in Pittsburgh during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. The two even chatted on Monday right after Sullivan’s split with the Penguins became official.
That east coast comment tells us a lot about which teams are probably out of the running. You can pretty much scratch off Vancouver, Seattle, and Anaheim. Chicago’s probably a no-go too.
The Philadelphia Flyers could be interesting – especially since there’s buzz about Tocchet possibly heading there himself. He’s got history with the team as a former player.
But the real action looks to be between two teams: the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins.
The Rangers job has had Sullivan’s name attached to it for months, even before Pittsburgh let him go. They’re desperate to win now after a really disappointing season, and they need someone with serious credentials. Sullivan fits that bill perfectly.
Here’s what makes the Bruins really intriguing though: Sullivan’s from Boston, his family still lives there, and get this – he’s actually Charlie McAvoy’s father-in-law. Plus, he’s coached the Bruins before, back in the mid-2000s.
With Sullivan’s track record, he won’t be unemployed for long. And it sounds like he’s already got his sights set on heading back east.
