Steve Sullivan

For the writer and Dungeons & Dragons artist, see Stephen D. Sullivan.
For the American World Jr. Lightweight boxing champion, see Steve Sullivan (boxer).
Steve Sullivan

Sullivan with the Penguins in 2011.
Born (1974-07-06) July 6, 1974
Timmins, ON, CAN
Height 5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Weight 156 lb (71 kg; 11 st 2 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shot Right
Played for New Jersey Devils
Toronto Maple Leafs
Chicago Blackhawks
Nashville Predators
Pittsburgh Penguins
Phoenix Coyotes
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 233rd overall, 1994
New Jersey Devils
Playing career 19942013

Steve Sullivan (born July 6, 1974) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played over 1000 games in the National Hockey League for the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Phoenix Coyotes. He is currently the Coyotes' development coach.

Playing career

Sullivan was taken by the New Jersey Devils in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft ninth round, 233rd overall.[1] Sullivan was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1996–97 NHL season, where he went on to score a (then) career high 40 points during the 1998–99 NHL season.

Sullivan was then picked up off waivers in 1999 by the Chicago Blackhawks. Sullivan posted a new career high of 75 points in the 2001–02 NHL season.

Sullivan was traded to the Nashville Predators for a second-round pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft (Michael Blunden) and a second-round pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft (Ryan Garlock) on February 16, 2004.

Upon arriving in Nashville, Sullivan put up 30 points in 24 games, including a hat trick in his first game with the Predators, and 10 points in his first 3 games with the team.

He was named the NHL's Offensive Player of the Week for October 9–16, 2005.

In February 2007, Sullivan suffered a debilitating back injury in a game against the Montreal Canadiens that forced Sullivan out of action for the remainder of the 2006–07 season, all of the 2007–08 season, and the first half of the 2008–09 season. Sullivan made his comeback on January 10, 2009, against the Chicago Blackhawks after nearly 23 months. Due to his successful comeback during the 2008–09 season, Sullivan was awarded the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for his perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.

On July 1, 2011, he signed a one-year contract worth $1.5 million with the Pittsburgh Penguins.[2] His early form in the 2011–12 season, was disappointing but as the season went on, he became better accustomed to the Penguins' lineup and finished with 48 points in 79 games. He scored two goals in the Penguins opening round loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

On July 4, 2012, Sullivan signed a one-year, $1.85 million deal with the Phoenix Coyotes.[3] Signed with the intention to cover the loss of fellow veteran Ray Whitney, Sullivan got off to a quick start with the Coyotes in the lockout shortened 2012–13 season, scoring a hat-trick in his third game to help defeat the Columbus Blue Jackets on January 24, 2013.[4] On March 28, 2013, Sullivan dressed for his 1,000th NHL game, fittingly against the Nashville Predators.[5] He was honored during the game as the Coyotes defeated the Predators 7-4.[6]

On April 3, 2013, Sullivan was dealt by the Coyotes at the trade deadline to return to his original club, the New Jersey Devils, for a 7th round draft pick.[7] His time between stints with the Devils was 16 year, 45 days, the third longest amount of time between stints with one team in NHL history.[8]

On September 8, 2014, the Coyotes announced that they had hired Sullivan as their development coach.

Personal life

His uncle, Bob Sullivan, is a retired professional hockey player, having played for the Hartford Whalers and numerous European teams.

Career statistics

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1992–93Sault Ste. Marie GreyhoundsOHL623637634416381118
1993–94Sault Ste. Marie GreyhoundsOHL63516211382149162522
1994–95Albany River RatsAHL7531508112414471110
1995–96Albany River RatsAHL5333427512743036
1995–96New Jersey DevilsNHL165498
1996–97Albany River RatsAHL15871516
1996–97New Jersey DevilsNHL338142214
1996–97Toronto Maple LeafsNHL215111623
1997–98Toronto Maple LeafsNHL6310182840
1998–99Toronto Maple LeafsNHL63202040281336914
1999–00Toronto Maple LeafsNHL70114
1999–00Chicago BlackhawksNHL7322426452
2000–01Chicago BlackhawksNHL8134417554
2001–02Chicago BlackhawksNHL782139606751012
2002–03Chicago BlackhawksNHL8226356142
2003–04Chicago BlackhawksNHL5615284336
2003–04Nashville PredatorsNHL24921301261126
2005–06Nashville PredatorsNHL693137685050220
2006–07Nashville PredatorsNHL5722386020
2008–09Nashville PredatorsNHL4111213230
2009–10Nashville PredatorsNHL821734513560332
2010–11Nashville PredatorsNHL441012222892132
2011–12Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL791731482062464
2012–13Phoenix CoyotesNHL33571220
2012–13New Jersey DevilsNHL92354
NHL totals 1011 290 457 747 587 50 9 14 23 30

References

  1. "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". National Hockey League.
  2. "NHL Free Agent Tracker". The Sports Network. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  3. "Steve Sullivan signs with Coyotes". USA Today. 2012-07-04. Retrieved 2012-07-04.
  4. "Sullivan's Hat-trick powers Coyotes past Jackets". National Hockey League. 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  5. "Against the odds, Sullivan to play 1,000th game". National Hockey League. 2013-03-27. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
  6. "Coyotes use six goal first period to defeat Predators". National Hockey League. 2013-03-28. Retrieved 2013-03-28.
  7. "Devils acquire Steve Sullivan". NJ.com. 2013-04-03. Retrieved 2013-04-03.
  8. "The Newark Star Ledger. April 7, 2013. section 4 pg. 5".
Preceded by
Jason Blake
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
2009
Succeeded by
Jose Theodore
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