The Toronto Marlies, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, have appointed John Sullivan as their new head coach, the team announced Wednesday. Sullivan replaces Greg Moore, who left the organization earlier this offseason to join the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets as an assistant coach.
Sullivan's Coaching Background
Sullivan, 44, brings a decade of head coaching experience to the Marlies. He most recently served as head coach of the Providence Bruins, Boston's AHL affiliate, from 2021 to 2026, where he compiled a 178-112-30 record and led the team to the playoffs in four of five seasons. Before that, he was head coach of the USHL's Sioux City Musketeers (2016-2021), winning the Clark Cup in 2019, and spent three seasons as an assistant at the University of Notre Dame.
Marlies' Recent Success
The Marlies are coming off a strong 2025-26 campaign in which they finished second in the North Division with a 42-22-8 record and advanced to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs before falling to the eventual champion Chicago Wolves. The team has developed numerous NHL players in recent years, including Matthew Knies, Nick Robertson, and Joseph Woll.
“John is a proven winner and a great developer of talent,” said Marlies general manager Ryan Hardy in a statement. “His experience and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to build a winning culture in Toronto and prepare players for the next level.”
Reaction from Sullivan
Sullivan expressed excitement about the opportunity. “I’m thrilled to join the Toronto Marlies and be part of such a prestigious organization,” he said. “I look forward to working with our players and staff to build on the success they’ve had and continue developing the next generation of Maple Leafs.”
The Marlies will begin their 2026-27 season in October. Sullivan’s first game behind the bench will be a preseason matchup against the Rochester Americans on September 25.
