Rangers get their man, hire 2-time Stanley Cup winner Mike Sullivan as coach
What seemed inevitable once Mike Sullivan parted ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier in the week became official Friday morning. The New York Rangers hired Sullivan to be the 38th coach in franchise history, replacing the fired Peter Laviolette.
Chris Drury has coveted the two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach ever since he was named general manager in May 2021. Drury pursued Sullivan before hiring Gerard Gallant in 2021 and Laviolette in 2023. Each time, Sullivan remained coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
But now Drury, and the Rangers , have their man after a tumultuous 2024-25 season that was among the most disappointing in franchise history. The Rangers became just the fourth team in NHL history to go from winning the Presidents’ Trophy one season to missing the playoffs the next.
Known for being a big personality with an ability to communicate well up and down the organization and roster, Sullivan returns to the Rangers, for whom he was an assistant under John Tortorella from 2009-13.
ESPN’s Emily Kaplan was first to report that the Rangers were “in advanced talks” to hire Sullivan on Thursday night. She added that “It is expected to be one of the richest coaching contracts in NHL history.”
The Rangers didn’t reveal contract particulars.
Sullivan spent the previous 10 seasons with the Penguins and guided them to Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017, his first two seasons behind their bench.
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