BOSTON — Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan has a unique place in Boston Bruins history.
Like Terry O’Reilly and Mike Millbury before him, Sullivan not only played for the Bruins but also served as the team’s head coach once he hung up his skates. Sullivan put on the Black and Gold just for the 1997-98 season before coming back as the top bench boss from 2003-06. Sullivan officially coached the Bruins for two seasons as he was with the team during the 2004-05 NHL lockout.
Those jobs are the pinnacle for any hockey-idolizing kid growing up in the Boston area, which Sullivan was as he’s a native of Marshfield, Mass. And he holds the Original Six franchise in high regard as the Bruins get set to celebrate their centennial game Sunday against the Montreal Canadiens.
“They’re an incredible organization. They have such a storied history. They’re part of the fabric of the community here in Boston,” Sullivan said prior to the Bruins facing the Penguins on Friday at TD Garden. “It was a privilege to be a part of it both as a player and a coach in the time that I was here. I think what the Bruins mean to the community and the city and the area is impressive. I think all of us that have had the privilege to participate in that, you feel that responsibility to give back.
“They’ve built a certain history here with some of the former players that have come before and there’s always that pride in the logo. And I think as a player you feel that, and as coach you certainly feel that also. They’re an incredible organization. I think they’ve done an amazing job staying relevant and staying competitive year in and year out. They’re always in it.”
It took Sullivan nearly a decade to get another coaching job after being let go by the Bruins. But the 56-year-old certainly made the most of his time with the Penguins.
He captured back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in his first two seasons with Pittsburgh and compiled a 383-231-81 mark with the Penguins as he’s now in his 10th season with the franchise.
