A free Sleeveless Gaming jersey pack is available in NHL 25 Hockey Ultimate Team.

The jersey celebrates Cam "NoSleeves" Halbert, an NHL content creator and and commentator for NHL Esports. 

The jersey can be acquired in a free pack in the HUT Store or in the World of Chel store. 

Creators like NoSleeves are essential to NHL 25 and it is great to see support from EA, hopefully there more creator additions going forward. 

Cool moment for me, appreciate all the support over the years!

My jersey is in @EASPORTSNHL HUT and WOC! pic.twitter.com/aDo938sKCl

— Cam / NoSleeves (@NoSleevesGaming) April 25, 2025

We broke down the Playoff Fantasy Event here. 

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On Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas shook the hockey world when he announced that head coach Mike Sullivan would not be returning to coach the Penguins in 2025-26.

With the Penguins and Sullivan mutually agreeing to part ways, Dubas and the organization will allow other teams to speak to the Penguins now-former head coach, who still has two years remaining on his contract. Sullivan figures to be scooped up by someone rather quickly, while the Penguins will begin their search for a new head coach immediately.

Dubas spoke to the Pittsburgh media on Monday following the announcement, and there was a lot to unpack from his press conference. Here are a few takeaways from Dubas’s presser.

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The decision was in the works for a while

Dubas made a point to emphasize - like all GMs do when something like this happens - that it wasn't a decision that was made lightly or hastily.

According to Dubas, there were several instances throughout the season that gave him pause on whether Sullivan was still the right guy to lead the team through a transition or if they needed a change.

“I talked to him every day throughout the day, worked with him every day throughout the year,” Dubas said. "And there were times throughout the year where I started to think that it may just be time for a number of reasons. It's a lot to ask of somebody when they've done such a long and successful job here to be managing that and continue to transition the team through."

Dubas had his final formal meeting with Sullivan the day following Dubas's season-ending presser on Apr. 21. It’s clear that Dubas had some conversations with Sullivan that day that helped solidify his conviction, and he said he walked out of the conversation with a feeling that a change might be in order.

All NHL coaches have a shelf life, and Dubas simply felt that the time for a change was now after a culmination of events and factors during his Pittsburgh tenure.

BREAKING: Penguins And Head Coach Mike Sullivan Mutually Part WaysAfter nearly 10 years, the Pittsburgh Penguins will have a new voice behind the bench for the 2025-26 season.

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Sullivan isn’t the coach for a period of transition

“Mutually parting ways” can mean a lot of things. But, in this case, it does sound like that's exactly what may have happened. Dubas and Sullivan simply weren't on the same page anymore, and they wanted different things.

Like any relationship, sometimes those things - although amicable - are irreconcilable. That seems to be the case here. The Penguins are navigating a transitional period, and, as Dubas said, it’s rare to see coaches stick around through the entire process from competing on to a transition on to competing again. 

"Sometimes you just leave conversations with people, and especially with that, when it's a relationship between the general manager and the coach... for me, part of the reaffirmation of where we're at is, 'Is he still up for this? Does he want to go through this? Where does he sense it's at, and what's his energy and passion for it?'" Dubas said.

"In a perfect world, you would love to grind and see it all the way through with the Penguins. But - I think, in my mind - after my conversation with him last week and more contemplation during the week, there's not any one thing that I would look at and say that 'we had mass disagreement on these two areas'... it was just, in general, the feeling that the demands of this and what we're asking, it was, to me, time for him to elsewhere to apply and for us to move on as well."

Sullivan accomplished a lot in Pittsburgh, and he was the winningest coach in franchise history. But in order to see the Penguins’ rebuild process - however long it may be - the entire way through, he simply may not be the right guy for that job. 

That said, Dubas emphasized Sullivan's high regard as a head coach, and it's relatively obvious that the organization expects him to have a new head coaching gig at the NHL level in pretty short order. It's no secret that Sullivan - who will coach Team USA at the Winter Olympics in 2026 - is in high demand.

Mike Sullivan's Departure From Penguins Paves The Way For Rangers To Swoop In The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Monday morning that they have parted ways with longtime head coach Mike Sullivan.

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Development is the priority for any new coach

Aside from the “why” for Sullivan’s departure from the Penguins, the biggest question is: “Who is next?”

Even though Dubas said that the team will have a “wide net” in its search for a new head coach, it did sound like they have a pretty good idea of the type of experience they’re looking for in the position.

Of course, there are veteran coaches like John Tortorella, Gerard Gallant, and Peter Laviolette available, with potentially a few others like current Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet on the market soon. But Dubas seemed to emphasize the importance of player development given the stage that the Penguins are in, and it seems the priority might be finding a coach who works well with young players - and who might have a lot of experience in developmental leagues like juniors, college hockey, and the AHL.

“We'll have deep questions as we go through the process on what their experience has been developmentally,” Dubas said. "Sully had that. Sully was in player development with Chicago, he coached in the American League, an [NHL] assistant coach...that's something I think, especially now in the salary cap era, you have to be developing your own guys."

Dubas mentioned Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery and Los Angeles Kings coach Jim Hiller as examples of coaches who had plenty of head coaching experience but none at the NHL level prior to being named head coach of their respective organizations. 

This may lend to the idea that Dubas will be looking for similar types of coaches who are able to balance prioritizing the development of younger players while also being vigilant in maintaining a winning culture for the Penguins’ talented and experienced core of veterans.

Dubas and the Penguins plan to conduct virtual interviews from now through near the end of May, and they will hold the next round of interviews in the following few weeks. Dubas expects a new head coach to be hired sometime at the beginning of June and prior to the NHL Draft on June 27-28.

'We Have To Stick To A Very Concise Plan And Then Execute Our Butts Off': Dubas Clarifies Penguins' Summer PlansTo close out the 2024-25 season, Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas spoke with the Pittsburgh media on Monday.

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The Seattle Kraken are planning a thorough search for their next head coach, someone who will commit to developing the young crop of players they have.

The first two head coaches the Kraken hired were David Hakstol and Dan Bylsma. Hakstol was the head coach of the University of North Dakota before signing with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015. His stint with the Flyers ended in 2018, and he followed that with a job as an assistant coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs for an additional two seasons. He joined the Kraken for three seasons, making the postseason just once. 

Bylsma worked as the head coach of the Kraken for just one season, previously serving as the lead man of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres. He spent two seasons coaching the Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Kraken's AHL team, where he led them to two Calder Cup finals, losing both. 

The next coach of the Kraken will have a lot of pressure weighing on their shoulders, meaning results will need to come very quickly. Here are five candidates who may be able to fulfill the organization's needs.

David Carle

No coach is better equipped to develop the young Kraken players than Carle. He's coached at the University of Denver for seven seasons, winning two national championships, and winning back-to-back gold medals as the head coach of Team USA's world junior team. 

Players such as Zeev Buium, Bobby Brink, Massimo Rizzo, Cole Gutman, Carter Mazur, Jack Devine and others have had phenomenal seasons under Carle's tutelage and have gone on to play in the NHL or AHL. His ability to help his players become player drivers offensively while maintaining their awareness to the defensive side of the puck should bode well for players like Shane Wright, Matty Beniers and Berkly Catton.

Mike Sullivan

Sullivan was fired by the Penguins earlier this morning and has immediately become the prized possession of the head coach search. He coached the Penguins to two Stanley Cups during his 10-year tenure. Throughout his career, he's served as the assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks, while also spending a season as the player development coach for the Chicago Blackhawks.

He was the second-longest tenured coach behind Jon Cooper before he was fired, and was well respected by Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, all of whom had phenomenal seasons while Sullivan was the head coach. His background as a scout and development coach, coupled with his success as a head coach fits the criteria of what the Kraken are looking for. 

Breaking News: Seattle Kraken Announce Leadership Changes; Jason Botterill Promoted to GMSeattle, WA - The Seattle Kraken have made significant changes to their hockey leadership, just one day after parting ways with head coach Dan Bylsma. On Tuesday, April 22, the organization announced it has elevated Ron Francis to President of Hockey Operations and promoted Jason Botterill to Executive Vice President and General Manager.

Jay Woodcroft

Connor McDavid enjoyed the highest goal and point-scoring season of his career with Woodcroft behind the Oilers' bench. While it ended a bit sourly between the organization and Woodcroft, there was a lot to like about his coaching. Under Woodcroft, the Oilers were one of the best offensive teams in the NHL, dangerous on both the power play and at even strength. Defensively, the Oilers were poor at times, partially due to the lack of resources they had on the blue line. 

A criticism some have bestowed on Woodcroft was that he was sometimes too lenient on McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. He would play them together whenever the going got tough, even though they did not have the depth to allow it, and allowed them to play the bulk, if not all, of the power play minutes the team had. 

Kraken Retaining Jessica Campbell Shows Faith In Early Positive SignsThe Seattle Kraken parted ways with Dan Bylsma after just one season as the head coach, and while many thought Jessica Campbell may have followed, the organization is rewarding her with another season after some early positive returns.

Peter Laviolette

Laviolette might be the furthest off from what the Kraken are searching for, but hiring him would likely get them the results in the regular season that they have been craving. 

The 60-year-old has coached the New York Islanders, Carolina Hurricanes, Flyers, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals and the Rangers during his career, winning the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes. 

The relationship between Laviolette and Kraken forward Kaapo Kakko wasn't great, and it could be why the Kraken steer away from Laviolette. He doesn't have the greatest reputation for developing young players, as Kakko, Alexis Lafrenière, and Filip Chytil never hit the heights they were expected to.

Todd Nelson

Similar to Carle, Nelson does not have much experience in head coaching at the NHL level, but his experience at other levels is a good indication that he is worth a chance. Nelson first worked as an assistant coach of the Atlanta Thrashers back in 2008, before becoming the head coach of the Oklahoma City Barons in the AHL. He was appointed as the head coach of the Oilers in the 2014-15 season, working as the interim head coach, before coaching their AHL affiliate.

He then worked four seasons as the assistant coach of the Dallas Stars before going back to the AHL with the Hershey Bears. The Kraken organization knows far too much about the Bears, as the Firebirds lost in the Calder Cup finals twice to Nelson and the Bears. 

The 55-year-old's experience working as a head coach in the AHL with young players checks off every box the Kraken are hoping for, and he could be a serious candidate for the job if both he and the Kraken are interested. 

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The Chicago Blackhawks are in the process of looking for a head coach. Anders Sorensen took over on an interim basis when they fired Luke Richardson mid-season, but Sorensen is not expected to remain the coach. 

Coming out of the regular season, it was well known that University of Denver head coach David Carle was at the top of Kyle Davidson’s list. Over the weekend, however, Carle dropped out of this potential opportunity. 

Now, the Blackhawks have to pivot and look in a different direction. Recent NHL news has presented them with a new option. 

On Monday morning, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they have parted ways with head coach Mike Sullivan. He leaves behind the team with which he established himself as a top-flight coach. 

Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) on XThe Pittsburgh Penguins and Head Coach Mike Sullivan have agreed to part ways. Details: https://t.co/9AB8bPOijI

Sullivan, since becoming the head coach of the Penguins, has won the Stanley Cup twice. He was Team USA’s coach in their second-place effort at the 4-Nations Face-Off. Everywhere Sullivan has been, success has followed. 

The Blackhawks must try to pursue Sullivan in their search. A guy like David Carle has much potential as an NHL head coach, but Sullivan has proven it at the highest level more than once. 

Not only has Sullivan gotten the most out of NHL depth players, but he has also led stars like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang to great playoff success. That experience, if hired, may help him get Connor Bedard and other young stars in Chicago going. 

Pittsburgh has also had some tactical advantages under Mike Sullivan during his tenure there. One example came when he found a way to fit in Phil Kessel by taking him away from Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Getting Kessel on the third line with Carl Hagelin and Nick Bonino got him going and gave the Penguins three scoring lines. It became a matchup nightmare for the opposition because Pittsburgh had an Olympian driving play on every line.

He also perfectly handled the Marc-Andre Fleury & Matt Murray duo in 2016 and 2017. The right buttons were pushed to get each of them to do what was necessary to win back-to-back championships. 

One final example is how he handled Justin Schultz in those championship days. Whether Kris Letang was healthy or not, Sullivan knew how to get Schultz to execute whatever role was needed from him on the blue line. 

If he is on the radar for Chicago, they will have some competition. They aren’t even the only Original Six team with upside looking for a new coach. 

The Boston Bruins have a legit number one defenseman in Charlie McAvoy. He can lead a team from the back end in every offensive and defensive situation. He’s also married to Mike Sullivan's daughter. Having a star goalie and elite forward locked in to rebuild around doesn’t hurt their case either. 

The New York Rangers are also on the search for a great head coach. They had a horrific season following a deep playoff run one year prior. Will they try to reload with a veteran coach? Sullivan would be a great candidate for that role. 

Other younger teams like the Anaheim Ducks and Seattle Kraken are looking for a new bench boss as well. Chicago will be far from alone regarding teams that make sense for Mike Sullivan. 

Undoubtedly, he would be a great fit for this organization, looking to take a step. All Kyle can do is pursue him to the best of his ability. From there, it's on the coach to make a decision. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Monday morning that they have parted ways with longtime head coach Mike Sullivan.

Sullivan just completed his tenth season with the Penguins and after winning two Stanley Cups and leading his team to multiple playoff appearances, he’ll be moving on. 

“On behalf of Fenway Sports Group and the Penguins organization, I would like to thank Mike Sullivan for his unwavering commitment and loyalty to the team and City of Pittsburgh over the past decade,” Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said in a statement. “Mike is known for his preparation, focus and fierce competitiveness. I was fortunate to have a front-row seat to his dedication to this franchise for the past two seasons. 

“He will forever be an enormous part of Penguins history, not only for the impressive back-to-back Cups, his impact on the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Bryan Rust, but more importantly, for his love and loyalty to the organization. This was not a decision that was taken lightly, but as we continue to navigate the Penguins through this transitional period, we felt it was the best course forward for all involved.”

This move by the Penguins has some major implications on the New York Rangers’ coaching search.

According to Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today, multiple league sources believe that Sullivan is Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury’s top choice to fill in the team’s head coaching vacancy. 

Sullivan and Drury have ties from Boston University and USA Hockey as this match makes perfect sense. 

Rangers Players Defend Peter Laviolette With A Tone Of Sympathy After Firing For the third time since 2021 the Rangers have fired their head coach. 

Drury also made a push for Sullivan in previous head coaching searches and now that he’s parted ways with the Penguins, now could be the perfect opportunity for the Rangers to sway Sullivan to make his way to New York.

The Rangers fired Peter Laviolette after missing the playoffs and going through a season filled with disappointments.

Drury has let go of three coaches since 2021 as the Blueshirts are in dire need of some stability behind the bench. 

Given Sullivan’s tenure in Pittsburgh and overall track record, he could provide that stability and help change the culture within the Rangers organization.

Here's today's NHL Nugget – this Birthday Backcheck features Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen, who turns 30 on April 28.

Lankinen set a career high in games played this season with 51 for the Canucks, more than double the number of matches he appeared in with the Nashville Predators last season. After some 4 Nations Face-Off action for Finland, Lankinen's sticking around with the Canucks for a while longer.

Brian T. Dessart takes fans on a distinctive ride through the historic-laden NHL with the #NHLNugget. Check out NHLNugget.com to find where to follow NHL Nugget on social media.  And for past NHL Nuggets, click here.