Penguins coach Mike Sullivan signed to 4-year-extension

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins and head coach Mike Sullivan have agreed to a four-year contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2023-2024 season.

“Mike has done a great job delivering four 100-plus point seasons with our team,” Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said. “To win back-to-back Stanley Cups in this era speaks volumes of him as a coach. His instincts in managing the interworkings of our team both on and off the ice has been impressive.”

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Since taking over as the Penguins head coach in December 2015, Sullivan’s accomplishments are on par with some of the best in NHL history. He is the first American-born coach in NHL history to win multiple Stanley Cups and the second head coach to win those Stanley Cups in each of his first two seasons behind the bench.

“Mike has proven he is a tremendous leader for our team,” Penguins team president and CEO David Morehouse said. “Mike has a championship mindset and he is the right guy for our team, the organization and the city of Pittsburgh.”

That was beginning to come into question in recent weeks because Sullivan was entering the final year of his current deal, but this news will give him the confidence and power to get the team back to “playing the right way.”

The Penguins first-round playoff loss to the Islanders has sparked numerous changes, including trading away Phil Kessel.

This upcoming season will be arguably the most challenging in Sullivan’s tenure as he tries to squeeze every ounce of greatness out of the Crosby, Malkin and Letang era. Now he will be doing that with a new contract that says he and his message will remain in Pittsburgh for quite some time.

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