Head coach Mike Sullivan and the Pittsburgh Penguins have agreed to a contract extension.
Sullivan’s new contract, which is for four years and will last through the 2022–2023 season, was announced by the team on Friday.
“With our team, Mike has produced four seasons with 100 or more points,” Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said. “To win two Stanley Cups in a row in this era is a testament to his coaching abilities. His abilities to oversee our team’s interactions both on and off the ice have been impressive.”
With Sullivan heading into the last year of his current contract, Pittsburgh was open about wanting to work out a new one.
Rutherford stated to Jonathan Bombulie of TribLive.com that while he “would like to see [Sullivan] stay long-term,” he began the offseason hoping to “change some of the players” through trades and free agency.
Following Mike Johnston’s dismissal following the team’s slow start, Sullivan was brought on by the Penguins in December 2015.
Sullivan’s first two seasons as head coach ended with Pittsburgh winning back-to-back Stanley Cup titles. In the four seasons since the 51-year-old took over, the team has a 174-92 record and has qualified for the postseason each time.
