Sullivan coached against these Penguins on Tuesday, when New York opened its regular season with a 3-0 loss at Madison Square Garden.
“You know, when I saw the schedule in the summertime, I was hoping we didn’t see [this matchup] until March,” Sullivan said. “But it is what it is, you know? It’s something that I can’t control.”
Naturally, some of the awkwardness is gone. Still, this will be different.
At the first media timeout in the first period Saturday, a tribute video is bound to play. Sullivan has seen plenty like it. There’s been one for each returning player that won a championship in his tenure.
“He marked the city of Pittsburgh, for sure,” Penguins defenseman Kris Letang said. “I think the fans will be pretty excited to see him back in the building. … You build a bond, especially when you’re an older player. You spend most of your time with your coaches. Most of the time when you’re younger, you just try to do the stuff that he’s asking, you don’t really sit in personal meetings and stuff like that.
“So, I would say, the personal relationship that you create is always important and now that it’s kind of a different scenario, you kept that relationship going.”
Sullivan is still appreciated, even if the Penguins felt it was time for a change.
Dan Muse was hired as his replacement on June 4. Pittsburgh hasn’t won a postseason series since 2018 and hasn’t qualified since a streak of 16 straight appearances ended in 2022-23.
“I’m sure [Sullivan] felt challenged too,” said defenseman Erik Karlsson, who was acquired from the San Jose Sharks in a three-team trade on Aug. 6, 2023. “For everyone, obviously, we did not accomplish what we were hoping to do when I got traded here. And when you don’t win games and things are not going your way, and you don’t really find any answers to why, it gets frustrating. Everyone that’s here, I learned pretty quick, are very competitive guys.
“He was at the front force of that. And like I said, not winning games, I don’t think that anyone really got to see the best out of anyone. But all in all, it was a good time. I still enjoy my time here; I did from Day 1, and I still do. And again, wish him nothing but the best. New adventure, sometimes, is not a bad thing. We’re excited, the people that are still here, to move forward as well.”
There’s still an appreciation, one Sullivan shares. In May, he took out a series of billboards in Pittsburgh.
“I just thought it was important that I expressed my own gratitude for myself and my family, on behalf of us,” Sullivan said. “I was — I am — and continue to and will continue to be so grateful for the opportunity that I got to work here for 10 years. I thought it was appropriate that I expressed that to the people of Pittsburgh.”
On Saturday, the city can return the favor.
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