New Jersey Devils News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Tom Horak-USA TODAY Sports

New Jersey Devils Could Trade for New Head Coach

Originally posted on New Jersey Hockey Now
By Jonathan Bailey | Last updated 5/4/24

New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald has already made it clear that a big-time goalie will be brought to New Jersey via a Devils trade this summer. Fitzgerald’s first order of business, though, needs to be finding a successful coach who can guide this young team to a successful future.

That’s where Mike Sullivan could come in.

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Friday that they had fired associate coach Todd Reirden. Reirden coached the Pens from 2010 to 2018 and then again from 2020 to 2024. He also brought the Washington Capitals two 40-win seasons in his only two years as a head coach in the NHL.

It’s been speculated that Sullivan and Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas have had some back-and-forth – a power struggle, if you will – that has raised some question marks about Sullivan’s future in the organization.

Former Devils goalie and NHL insider Kevin Weekes noted on Twitter, or X, that the Penguins hadn’t granted teams permission to speak with Sullivan. Weekes did say, however, that the two sides could agree to a mutual parting of ways via a trade.

Per my tweet the other day, @penguins have relieved Associate Coach Reirden , curious to see what other potential changes happen with their staff. Tho they haven’t granted permission for teams re H.C Sullivan, if they mutually agree for his departure it could be via trade.

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) May 3, 2024

How about a Devils trade? Any takers?

Back in 1987, the Quebec Nordiques traded their head coach, Michel Bergeron, to the New York Rangers in exchange for a first-round pick and $75,000 in cash. This is the only such trade involving a head coach in NHL history, and it’s the only precedent set for a potential Devils trade for Sullivan.

Did the move at least work out for the Rangers? Uh, not exactly.

Bergeron and the Rangers missed the playoffs in his first season with the team, and, despite making a small improvement the following year, Bergeron was fired before the end of the season. Bergeron returned to the Nordiques after being fired, coached them to an abysmal 12-win season, and never coached in the NHL again.

It is, of course, unlikely that the Devils trade a potential top-10 first-round pick for a coach, even if it is for Sullivan, who goes way back with Fitzgerald. The Devils earned that pick for a reason, and it’s highly unlikely that Sullivan comes in and covers those warts.

If Fitzgerald feels Sullivan is the coach for his team, he’ll go out and make it happen. If the Penguins feel it’s time to move on and are happy to take some draft capital as a ‘thank you’, they’ll strike a deal.

The offseason story for Sullivan in the Devils is far from over.

This article first appeared on New Jersey Hockey Now and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: