Steve Sullivan

Steve Sullivan (born July 6, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played over 1000 games in the National Hockey League for the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Arizona Coyotes. He has subsequently served in off-ice roles for the Coyotes as development coach and assistant general manager.

Steve Sullivan
Sullivan with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011
Born	July 6, 1974 Timmins, Ontario, Canada
Height	5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight	156 lb (71 kg; 11 st 2 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shot	Right
Played for	New Jersey Devils Toronto Maple Leafs Chicago Blackhawks Nashville Predators Pittsburgh Penguins Phoenix Coyotes
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	233rd overall, 1994 New Jersey Devils
Playing career	1994–2013

Playing career

Early years

Sullivan was taken by the New Jersey Devils in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft ninth round, 233rd overall.[1] He first played with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, followed by the Albany River Rats, where he captured a Calder Cup championship in 1995. Sullivan was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1996–97 NHL season, where he went on to score a (then) career high 40 points during the 1998–99 NHL season.

Chicago Blackhawks

Sullivan was then picked up off waivers in 1999 by the Chicago Blackhawks.[2] Sullivan posted a new career high of 75 points in the 2001–02 NHL season.

Nashville Predators

Sullivan was traded to the Nashville Predators for a second-round pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft (Michael Blunden) and a second-round pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft (Ryan Garlock) on February 16, 2004.

Upon arriving in Nashville, Sullivan put up 30 points in 24 games, including a hat trick in his first game with the Predators,[3] and 10 points in his first 3 games with the team. Sullivan was named the NHL's Offensive Player of the Week for October 9–16, 2005.[4]

In February 2007, Sullivan suffered a debilitating back injury in a game against the Montreal Canadiens that forced him out of action for the remainder of the 2006–07 season, all of the 2007–08 season, and the first half of the 2008–09 season. Sullivan made his comeback on January 10, 2009, against the Chicago Blackhawks after nearly 23 months. Due to his successful comeback during the 2008–09 season, Sullivan was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for his perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.[5]

Pittsburgh Penguins

On July 1, 2011, he signed a one-year contract worth $1.5 million with the Pittsburgh Penguins.[6] His early form in the 2011–12 season was disappointing, but as the season went on, he became better accustomed to the Penguins' lineup and finished with 48 points in 79 games. He scored two goals in the Penguins opening round playoff loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

Final NHL season

On July 4, 2012, Sullivan signed a one-year, $1.85 million deal with the Phoenix Coyotes.[7] Signed with the intention to cover the loss of fellow veteran Ray Whitney, Sullivan got off to a quick start with the Coyotes in the lockout shortened 2012–13 season, scoring a hat-trick in his third game to help defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 24, 2013.[8] On March 28, 2013, Sullivan dressed for his 1,000th NHL game, fittingly against the Nashville Predators.[9] He was honored during the game as the Coyotes defeated the Predators 7-4.[10]

On April 3, 2013, Sullivan was dealt by the Coyotes at the trade deadline to return to his original club, the New Jersey Devils, for a 7th round draft pick.[11] His time between stints with the Devils was 16 year, 45 days, the third longest amount of time between stints with one team in NHL history.[12]

On September 8, 2014, the Coyotes announced that they had hired Sullivan as their development coach.[13]

On July 26, 2020, Sullivan was named the interim general manager of the Coyotes.[14]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1991–92	Timmins Golden Bears	NOJHL		47	66	55	121	141		—	—	—	—	—
1992–93	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL		62	36	27	63	44		16	3	8	11	18
1992–93	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	MC		—	—	—	—	—		4	1	0	1	4
1993–94	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL		63	51	62	113	82		14	9	16	25	22
1994–95	Albany River Rats	AHL		75	31	50	81	124		14	4	7	11	10
1995–96	Albany River Rats	AHL		53	33	42	75	127		4	3	0	3	6
1995–96	New Jersey Devils	NHL		16	5	4	9	8		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Albany River Rats	AHL		15	8	7	15	16		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	New Jersey Devils	NHL		33	8	14	22	14		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		21	5	11	16	23		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		63	10	18	28	40		—	—	—	—	—
1998–99	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		63	20	20	40	28		13	3	3	6	14
1999–2000	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		7	0	1	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
1999–2000	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		73	22	42	64	52		—	—	—	—	—
2000–01	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		81	34	41	75	54		—	—	—	—	—
2001–02	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		78	21	39	60	67		5	1	0	1	2
2002–03	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		82	26	35	61	42		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		56	15	28	43	36		—	—	—	—	—
2003–04	Nashville Predators	NHL		24	9	21	30	12		6	1	1	2	6
2005–06	Nashville Predators	NHL		69	31	37	68	50		5	0	2	2	0
2006–07	Nashville Predators	NHL		57	22	38	60	20		—	—	—	—	—
2008–09	Nashville Predators	NHL		41	11	21	32	30		—	—	—	—	—
2009–10	Nashville Predators	NHL		82	17	34	51	35		6	0	3	3	2
2010–11	Nashville Predators	NHL		44	10	12	22	28		9	2	1	3	2
2011–12	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		79	17	31	48	20		6	2	4	6	4
2012–13	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		33	5	7	12	20		—	—	—	—	—
2012–13	New Jersey Devils	NHL		9	2	3	5	4		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				1011	290	457	747	587		50	9	14	23	30

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2000	Canada	WC		9	4	1	5	14
2001	Canada	WC		7	1	2	3	10
Senior totals				16	5	3	8	24

References

1. "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". National Hockey League.
2. Milbert, Neil (December 5, 2000). "Castoff Blasts Off". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
3. Wilson, Kevin (February 15, 2008). "10th: Steve Sullivan debuts with a hat trick vs. San Jose". NHL.com. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
4. "Sullivan named NHL Offensive Player of the Week". NHL.com. October 17, 2005. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
5. "Sullivan Wins Masterton Memorial Trophy; Becomes Preds First NHL Award Winner". NHL.com. June 18, 2009. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
6. "NHL Free Agent Tracker". The Sports Network. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
7. "Steve Sullivan signs with Coyotes". USA Today. 2012-07-04. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
8. "Sullivan's Hat-trick powers Coyotes past Jackets". National Hockey League. 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
9. "Against the odds, Sullivan to play 1,000th game". National Hockey League. 2013-03-27. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
10. "Coyotes use six goal first period to defeat Predators". National Hockey League. 2013-03-28. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
11. "Devils acquire Steve Sullivan". NJ.com. 2013-04-03. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
12. "The Newark Star Ledger. April 7, 2013. section 4 pg. 5".
13. "Coyotes name Steve Sullivan as development coach". NHL.com. September 8, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
14. https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/sources-steve-sullivan-named-interim-gm-coyotes/

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database, or TSN.ca