Another coach with a Stanley Cup on his resumé and Bruins ties is looking for work.
The Penguins and Mike Sullivan mutually agreed to part ways on Monday with two years left on his deal.
Mike Sullivan, who coached Team USA in the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off now becomes the biggest name available.
Sullivan began his coaching career with the Providence Bruins and spent three years coaching the Boston Bruins. He’s Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy’s father-in-law.
The Penguins won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017 but have missed the playoffs in three straight seasons.
He’s expected to be the top target of the New York Rangers, but the Bruins could be interested as well.
The Penguins join Boston, New York, Chicago Philadelphia and Anaheim among NHL openings now.
The Bruins fired Jim Montgomery in November and named Joe Sacco as the interim coach for the remainder of the season. Boston officials have said Sacco will be a candidate in a more extensive coaching search this offseason.
Sullivan is one of several Stanley Cup-winning coaches looking for work. The list includes Peter Laviolette, John Tortorella, Darryl Sutter, Claude Julien and Joel Quenneville.