Mike Sullivan has officially taken on a new role. The New York Rangers announced on Friday that they have hired Sullivan to be the team`s next head coach.
This move comes after the Rangers dismissed head coach Peter Laviolette on April 19, following a disappointing season that saw the team miss the playoffs.
Sullivan, 57, became available after he and the Pittsburgh Penguins mutually agreed to part ways on April 28, concluding his 10-season tenure with the club.
Rangers General Manager Chris Drury expressed confidence in the hiring, stating in a press release, “Mike Sullivan has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NHL. Given his numerous accomplishments throughout his coaching career — including two Stanley Cups and leading Team USA at the international level — Mike brings a championship-level presence behind the bench.”
Sullivan`s time with Pittsburgh included back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017. He holds franchise records for the Penguins in regular season games coached, regular season wins, post-season games coached, and post-season wins.
Owner James Dolan welcomed Sullivan back to the organization, adding, “Mike’s track record and success in the NHL and internationally speaks for itself, and I look forward to seeing him behind the Rangers bench.”
Notably, Sullivan has a history with the Rangers, having served as an assistant coach under John Tortorella from 2009 to 2013. During that period, he coached Chris Drury, who was then a player. The two have maintained a professional relationship through USA Hockey, recently collaborating at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February and being part of the U.S. contingent preparing for the 2026 Milan Olympics.
There is speculation that Tortorella, who was fired by the Philadelphia Flyers in late March, could potentially join Sullivan`s coaching staff, having worked together previously. However, no assistant coaching hires have been confirmed as of Friday, with the team expected to address those positions soon.
The Rangers` failure to qualify for the playoffs this year was a significant drop-off after reaching the Eastern Conference Final just last season. The team`s struggles were marked by the departure of veteran players like Barclay Goodrow and Jacob Trouba, and apparent regression in performance from key players including Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, K’Andre Miller, and goaltender Igor Shesterkin.
Peter Laviolette`s time with the Rangers was his sixth head-coaching job in the NHL. He was hired in June 2023, following stints with Washington, Nashville (where he won a Cup in 2017), Philadelphia, Carolina (where he won a Cup in 2006), and the Islanders.
With Sullivan filling the Rangers vacancy, several other NHL teams are still in search of a head coach, including the Bruins, Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, Seattle Kraken, and Vancouver Canucks. Teams that had initially contacted Sullivan will now need to explore other experienced candidates such as Rick Tocchet, Joel Quenneville, and Laviolette, as well as successful college coaches like Denver`s David Carle and Western Michigan`s Pat Ferschweiler.
Tristan Blackwood