Playing career

Sullivan was taken by the New Jersey Devils in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft ninth round, 233rd overall. 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. 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. 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. On March 28, 2013, Sullivan dressed for his 1,000th NHL game, fittingly against the Nashville Predators. He was honored during the game as the Coyotes defeated the Predators 7-4.

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. 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.

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. He is married and has 4 children, 3 sons, 1 daughter.

Career statistics

				Regular Season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1992-93	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL		62	36	37	63	44		16	3	8	11	18
1993-94	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds	OHL		63	51	62	113	82		14	9	16	25	22
1994-95	Albany River Rats	AHL		75	31	50	81	124		14	4	7	11	10
1995-96	Albany River Rats	AHL		53	33	42	75	127		4	3	0	3	6
1995-96	New Jersey Devils	NHL		16	5	4	9	8		—	—	—	—	—
1996-97	Albany River Rats	AHL		15	8	7	15	16		—	—	—	—	—
1996-97	New Jersey Devils	NHL		33	8	14	22	14		—	—	—	—	—
1996-97	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		21	5	11	16	23		—	—	—	—	—
1997-98	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		63	10	18	28	40		—	—	—	—	—
1998-99	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		63	20	20	40	28		13	3	6	9	14
1999-00	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL		7	0	1	1	4		—	—	—	—	—
1999-00	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		73	22	42	64	52		—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		81	34	41	75	54		—	—	—	—	—
2001-02	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		78	21	39	60	67		5	1	0	1	2
2002-03	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		82	26	35	61	42		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		56	15	28	43	36		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	Nashville Predators	NHL		24	9	21	30	12		6	1	1	2	6
2005-06	Nashville Predators	NHL		69	31	37	68	50		5	0	2	2	0
2006-07	Nashville Predators	NHL		57	22	38	60	20		—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	Nashville Predators	NHL		41	11	21	32	30		—	—	—	—	—
2009-10	Nashville Predators	NHL		82	17	34	51	35		6	0	3	3	2
2010-11	Nashville Predators	NHL		44	10	12	22	28		9	2	1	3	2
2011-12	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		79	17	31	48	20		6	2	4	6	4
2012-13	Phoenix Coyotes	NHL		33	5	7	12	20		—	—	—	—	—
2012-13	New Jersey Devils	NHL		9	2	3	5	4		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				1011	290	457	747	587		50	9	14	23	30

[ Source: Wikipedia ]