Sullivan spent two years as an assistant on the farm before helping the Maple Leafs, who replaced the promoted John Gruden to manage the AHL championship.
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Steve Sullivan will face a tough test as the Marlies’ new coach.
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Due to the ever-changing nature of rosters and priorities throughout the NHL farm system, teams rarely repeat as Calder Cup champions. This has only happened three times since the National Hockey League joined the four former World Hockey Association clubs in 1979. This has happened twice before with the Hershey Bears, in 2023 and 2024, in 2009 and 2010, and with the Springfield Indians in 1989 and 1990.
Sullivan, who was named Thursday to replace John Gruden after Gruden accepted Jim Shearer’s job on the Maple Leafs’ staff, will try to keep the pipeline from Coca-Cola Stadium to Scotiabank Arena heading into the playoffs and try to do what Gruden’s team did to win a second Calder for the franchise.
Sullivan returns to the Marlies after being promoted to the Maple Leafs in December when Marc Savard was fired as an assistant coach after a failed power struggle. The team made immediate progress under Sullivan, but Shearer and associate coach Daniel Alfredsson will now be in charge of running the team.
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Sullivan said on TSN radio that he applied for the Maple Leafs head coaching job after Craig Berube was fired and then applied for Shearer’s job. This forces Sullivan beyond his power play/team offense comfort zone.
“It gives me a different perspective. It’s exciting for me to get to know the whole team and what we’re all about, John Chayka, Mats Sundin and Ryan.
“If you look at the NHL, only five of the 32 head coaches have zero (prior) experience. If you want to be the best in the pros (AHL), I have to go that route no matter what, so why not now?”
John Chaika’s History
The 51-year-old Timmins, Ont., native had been with the Marlies for two years before transferring last season. Hiring Chayka as Toronto’s general manager in May would be an advantage for Sullivan, who previously worked under Chayka in the Arizona Coyotes front office and succeeded Chayka as general manager in 2020 after an abrupt feud with ownership.
Sullivan has served as the AGM since 2018 and manages the Arizona affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners.
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To perfect his scoring game, Sullivan played more than 1,000 NHL games in New Jersey, Chicago, Toronto, Nashville, Pittsburgh and Phoenix, amassing 290 goals and 457 assists. In the AHL, he scored 171 points in 153 games with the Albany River Rats, winning the Calder Cup in 1995.
“Steve has earned this opportunity through his work with the Maple Leafs and Marians and has developed strong relationships with young players throughout our organization,” Hardy said in a release. “His experience as a player and coach, coupled with his commitment to player development, make him the right person to lead the next generation of Marlies.”
Sullivan was thought to be taking over the farm, but he was not mentioned in the Maple Leafs’ personnel changes earlier this week. When Alfredson, Gruden and newcomer Brad Werenka joined.
It was also announced Thursday that coaching consultant Mark Giordano will serve as a full-time assistant with the Marlies following the departure of Michael Dyck to become general manager/head coach of the WHL’s Vancouver Giants.
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Which players will he inherit?
There’s a lot of speculation as to the makeup of the Marlies’ team at this point, although Chayka fully signed several veteran forwards from the NHL’s bottom six via free agency and trade on July 1, which could mean fewer minor leaguer promotions.
Sullivan could have playoff MVP Artur Akhtyamov back in net after the Maple Leafs added Sergei Bobrovsky in free agency to pair with Anthony Stolarz. The Marlies’ replacement is likely to be Slovakian Samuel Hlavaj. Hannu Toivonen returns as Marlies goalkeeping coach after Akhtiamov and traded Denis Hilderby showed significant improvement
While William Villeneuve signed a two-year deal with the Maple Leafs this week and forwards Jacob Quinlan and Ryan Tverberg reunited with young Luke Hymes, they will all compete with newcomers like Nick Paul, Teddy Brueger, Colton Sissons and Zach McEwen for third- and fourth-line roles, with Steven Lorenz and Dakota Joshua already in the mix.
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Veteran Marley forwards Vinny Lettieri and Bo Groulx had hoped their long-term performance in the Marley postseason — Lettieri leads the AHL in postseason points — would be reflected in the next Maple Leafs training camp.
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Marlies captain Logan Shaw was named the winner of the AHL’s Dave Andrews Award Wednesday for outstanding performance on and off the ice.
The team also announced its 2026-27 regular season schedule, hosting the Hamilton Hammers at Coca Coliseum on October 3rd, the team that relocated to the New York Islanders, who will host the Marris on October 9th at TD Stadium in Hamilton.
Lhornby@postmedia.com
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