Did the Maple Leafs Make a Mistake Moving Steve Sullivan?

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, you’d expect your next move to be higher up the ladder—not to the AHL.

But I think there’s a case for it being a real promotion. It’s just not in the normal “bigger league, bigger title” way. Being an assistant coach in the NHL is important, but it’s 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 can’t really fake or shortcut. He’s learning what it’s like to lead, not just support.

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Sullivan’s Timing Matters as Well

Timing is another reason this move makes sense. He’s 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 organization’s probably feeling pretty confident about what’s coming next. So Sullivan gets a strong environment to work in. Plus he’s right there with the kind of young talent Toronto wants to develop into NHL-ready players. That’s probably the ideal environment for a first-time AHL head coach.

What makes it even more interesting is that Sullivan didn’t 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 team’s 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.

This Wasn’t a Demotion—It Was a Different Kind of Promotion

I’m not really seeing this as the Maple Leafs moving him out or aside. It feels more like they’re giving him the next step. And whether it looks like a step up on the org chart or not, it’s easy to imagine Sullivan jumping at the chance to run his own bench.

Related: Who Really Holds the Power with the Maple Leafs?