The Toronto Maple Leafs have added a little bit of spark to their AHL coaching staff.
Former NHLer Steve Sullivan has been hired as an assistant coach for the Toronto Marlies, the team announced Thursday. Sullivan, 50, joins head coach John Gruden’s staff, which also features assistant Michael Dyck, goalie coach Hannu Toivonen and video coach Troy Paquette.
Most recently, Sullivan was the assistant general manager of the Arizona Coyotes from 2017-21, where he oversaw the AHL Tucson Roadrunners. Before that, he was in Arizona’s player development department as a coach and served as director in 2016-17.
As a player in the NHL, the Timmins, Ont., native skated in 1,011 regular-season and 50 playoff games with the Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Phoenix Coyotes, registering 290 goals and 457 assists for 747 points.
Sullivan, known in his playing days for his speed and tenacity, was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the ninth round (233rd overall) of the 1994 NHL Draft while a member of the Soo Greyhounds.