Mike Sullivan was sent to the bottom when he was fired by the Vancouver Canucks in May 2014. In retrospect, it may have been a blessing in disguise because that helped him find his way back to the top.
The lessons he learned about teaching younger players last year as the Blackhawks’ player development coach have served him well as he continues to guide the Penguins towards their fourth Stanley Cup championship.
His magic touch with rookies and younger players didn’t happen overnight, nor did it happen by accident. It took many hours watching lower levels of hockey to remember how tough it is for a player to make the jump to the NHL.