yardbarker
Did the Toronto Maple Leafs actually do something smart here, or are we overthinking it? On paper, moving Steve Sullivan from the NHL coaching staff to become head coach of the Toronto Marlies sounds backwards.
Normally, if you help turn around an NHL power play, youd expect your next move to be higher up the laddernot to the AHL.
But I think theres a case for it being a real promotion.
Its just not in the normal bigger league, bigger title way.
Being an assistant coach in the NHL is important, but its not the same job as running the whole team.
As head coach of the Marlies, Sullivan gets to call the shots, run practices, manage the lineup day to day, and handle all the stuff that comes with being the person responsible for the bench.
And if his long-term goal is to eventually become an NHL head coach, this is the type of experience you cant really fake or shortcut.
Hes learning what its like to lead, not just support.
Timing is another reason this move makes sense.
Hes not taking over some random situation.
Toronto just won the Calder Cup with the Marlies.
The prospect pipeline is in a really good spot, and the organizations probably feeling pretty confident about whats coming next.
So Sullivan gets a strong environment to work in.
Plus hes right there with the kind of young talent Toronto wants to develop into NHL-ready players.
Thats probably the ideal environment for a first-time AHL head coach.
What makes it even more interesting is that Sullivan didnt just get a promotion; it looks like he earned it.
Last season, when he replaced Mark Savard, the Maple Leafs power play was struggling hard.
It was at the bottom of the league.
But then, over the rest of the season, the teams power play improved.
It turned into one of the better units in the NHL.
Was that 100% Sullivan? Probably not, because hockey is never one single cause.
Sometimes a switch just clicks and guys finally find their game.
But coaches still deserve credit when something clearly improves under their watch.
If Sullivan helped fix the power play, it makes sense that the organization would reward him with a real opportunity to lead.
Im not really seeing this as the Maple Leafs moving him out or aside.
It feels more like theyre giving him the next step.
And whether it looks like a step up on the org chart or not, its easy to imagine Sullivan jumping at the chance to run his own bench.
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