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Published Dec 26, 2025  • Last updated 44 minutes ago  • 4 minute read
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Steve Sullivan has been added as an assistant coach to Craig Berube’s staff. Photo by PostmediaArticle content
Steve Sullivan received a nice promotion during the Christmas break.
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The Maple Leafs announced on Boxing Day morning that Sullivan, who had been an assistant coach with the Toronto Marlies, has been added as an assistant coach to Craig Berube’s staff.
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The move comes four days after the Leafs fired assistant coach Marc Savard, who failed to find anything approaching success with the Leafs’ power play.
When the Leafs resume play on Saturday night at home against the Ottawa Senators, they will do so with the worst power play in the National Hockey League, one that has converted on just 13% (12-for-92) of its opportunities.
When the Leafs resume play on Saturday night at home against the Ottawa Senators, they will do so with the worst power play in the National Hockey League, one that has converted on just 13% (12-for-92) of its opportunities.
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It’s expected that Sullivan eventually will take on a greater power-play role with the Leafs. After the Leafs beat the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday in their last game before the Christmas break, Berube clarified that for the time being, it would be a staff approach to running the power play.
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One of many issues
Of the several problems that the Leafs have had through their first 36 games of the 2025-26 regular season, the power play is at the top of the list. A dearth of goals with a man advantage has helped put the Leafs in 15th place in the Eastern Conference, five points behind the Florida Panthers for the second wild-card spot and six points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning for third place in the Atlantic Division.
The Marlies have not been much better, hitting on 15.9% of their power plays. As of Friday, that was 24th in the American Hockey League.
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It’s a full-circle moment for the 51-year-old Sullivan, a native of Timmins. He played in four seasons with the Leafs, joining the club in February 1997 when he was part of the package that came to Toronto in the trade that sent Doug Gilmour to the New Jersey Devils. In 154 games with the Leafs, Sullivan scored 35 goals and recorded 50 assists. In October 1999, the Chicago Blackhawks claimed Sullivan off waivers from Toronto.
Sullivan’s 16-year NHL career also included stops in Nashville, Pittsburgh and Phoenix. He played in 1,011 games, compiling 747 points, and retired after the 2012-13 season.
Prior to being hired by the Marlies in August 2024, Sullivan was the assistant general manager of the Arizona Coyotes from 2017-21.
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Three Leafs things
Three things we’ll be looking for as the Leafs return with a back-to-back set this weekend, with a game in Detroit against the Red Wings on Sunday following the Battle of Ontario on Saturday:
– Any sign that captain Auston Matthews can emerge from what has been a season-long slump.
With 23 points (14 goals and nine assists) in 31 games, Matthews hasn’t come close to providing what has been expected (they’re not unrealistic expectations, considering the high standard he has set in previous seasons).
If Matthews doesn’t record a point on Saturday, his dry spell will run to five games. He has not had that kind of stretch since his NHL rookie year, when he went seven games without a point from March 2-16, 2017.
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Matthews has more points (48) against Ottawa than he does versus any other NHL team. His 25 goals against the Sens are his second-most against any team, after Montreal (29). Will that matter on Saturday?
The Leafs need their top individuals to be pivotal to give the team any shot at making a run at a playoff spot, no matter how distant one is now. It starts with Matthews doing what he is supposed to be doing.
– A return to their form of last season, when defence partners Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe shone from start to end.
Tanev got his feet wet on Tuesday in his first game since Nov. 1 recovering from an upper-body injury, and got more comfortable once he and McCabe were reunited.
Tanev’s defensive-zone presence was significant for the Leafs in winning the Atlantic last season. As long as he can stay healthy, it’s on Tanev to provide that kind of guidance again.
– A bump on the power play, which is obvious.
Working harder to get more time with the man advantage would be nice, too. With their 92 opportunities, the Leafs are tied with New Jersey and Columbus for fewest in the NHL. San Jose has an NHL-high 127.
Frankly, no matter who is running the power play, whether it’s Sullivan or Derek Lalonde, there’s no way it can be as bad as it was under Savard.
X: @koshtorontosun
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