The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a significant addition to their coaching staff, announcing the hiring of former NHL forward Steve Sullivan as an assistant coach. The move, confirmed on December 26, 2025, brings a wealth of on-ice experience to the team's bench.
A Veteran Presence for the Bench
Steve Sullivan, a native of Timmins, Ontario, enjoyed a lengthy and productive NHL career spanning 1,011 regular-season games. The skilled forward played for several teams, including the New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Phoenix Coyotes. He was known for his speed, playmaking ability, and offensive instincts, qualities the Maple Leafs will hope he can help impart to their current roster.
His hiring represents a strategic move by the Leafs' management to add a coach with recent, high-level playing experience and a deep understanding of the modern game. Sullivan's journey from a successful player to a coach follows a familiar and often effective path in professional hockey.
Building on a Foundation of Experience
While the primary focus of the announcement is Sullivan's new role, his career highlights provide context for his qualifications. Notably, he reached the milestone of 1,000 NHL games during the 2012-13 season while playing for the Phoenix Coyotes. That memorable game took place on March 28, 2013, against the Nashville Predators, a team he once captained.
The Leafs are betting that Sullivan's perspective as a recently retired player—he last played in the 2012-13 season—will resonate in the locker room. His experience navigating the pressures of the NHL, particularly in a Canadian market, is considered a valuable asset for a team with championship aspirations.
What This Means for the Maple Leafs
This staffing decision comes mid-season, indicating the organization is seeking a fresh perspective or aiming to address specific areas of player development and strategy. Assistant coaches in the NHL are crucial for running specialized units, such as the power play or penalty kill, and for working one-on-one with players to refine their skills.
Sullivan's specific responsibilities have not been detailed, but his offensive background suggests he may work closely with the team's forwards. Integrating a new voice behind the bench is a calculated move as the Maple Leafs continue their pursuit of success in the highly competitive Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference.
The hiring reinforces the franchise's ongoing commitment to leveraging hockey knowledge from within Ontario and across Canada, adding a well-known figure from the province's northern hockey hotbed to its Toronto-based operations.
