Penguins' Sullivan not concerned about job security

Head coach Mike Sullivan is focused on getting the Pittsburgh Penguins' season on track rather than the noise surrounding his potential dismissal.

"I'm not concerned about it, no," Sullivan said of getting fired, per The Athletic's Josh Yohe. "I'm well aware of what I signed up for. It's the nature of the business. My main focus is trying to do what I do every day, applying a certain process I'm comfortable with to win games. I'll bring everything I can to the table every day to help this team win until such time when someone tells me otherwise."

The Penguins are last in the Metropolitan Division at 7-10-4, entering Friday's contest against the Winnipeg Jets. The club has missed the playoffs each of the past two seasons after qualifying 16 years in a row.

Sullivan took over behind the Penguins' bench in December 2015 after Mike Johnston was fired in-season. Pittsburgh won back-to-back championships following the change.

Despite the Penguins' lackluster results this campaign, Sullivan is adamant that he's as dedicated to the team as he was the day it hired him.

"I'm invested in the Pittsburgh Penguins," he said. "I care very, very deeply about this organization. I care deeply about the group of guys who have been in that locker room for a very long time. I love this organization with all of my soul. This organization and so many people associated with it have changed my life in so many ways. And so, for me, the challenge of trying to move this team forward and transition this team, it's a different kind of challenge, but it's one that I am welcoming."

Sullivan signed a three-year extension with the Penguins in 2022 and is under contract through the 2026-27 campaign. The 56-year-old has amassed a 382-229-81 record over 10 seasons in Pittsburgh.