After two seasons in the OHL with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Steve Sullivan was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 1995-96 season while spending the majority of his first two seasons with the team's AHL affiliate in Albany where he was named to the league's first all-star team and captured a Calder Cup title in 1995. The next year saw him split the season once again as well as being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sullivan spent the next three seasons in Toronto before being claimed off waivers by the Chicago Blackhawks, where he blossomed into a bona fide point-producer. The 2000-01 season was Sullivan's most productive in the NHL as he led the Blackhawks in scoring, as well as the league in short-handed goals and points.



Although small in stature, Sullivan is a crafty player with breakaway speed who after dominating the AHL in the mid 1990s, took his game to the NHL and once the 2002-03 season came to an end had scored five straight 20-plus goal seasons and five straight 40-plus point seasons. In February 2004, after parts of five seasons in the Windy City, Sullivan was dealt to the Nashville Predators who were looking for an offensive threat. Upon his arrival with the Preds, Sullivan to register 30 points (9-21-30) in 24 games, while leading the club to its first playoff appearance in franchise history. On the international stage Sullivan made his debut at the 2000 World Championships and returned again the following year.