NHL News
IT’S OFFICIAL: Mike Sullivan to NY Rangers
Less than a week after the Pittsburgh Penguins fired long-tenured coach Mike Sullivan, the intense Boston-native with a pair of Stanley Cup rings quickly landed on his feet with a Penguins rival.
Friday morning, the New York Rangers made official the hot rumors that swirled Thursday night. Sullivan will be the next head coach of the New York Rangers. The official announcement came shortly after 9 a.m.
Sullivan, 57, took over the Penguins’ bench in December of 2015 and guided the turnaround of the petulant, rudderless team loaded with talent. The Penguins won the 2015-16 Stanley Cup, then followed it up with the first back-to-back in the salary cap era. In fact, no other team has won back-to-back Cups with a full 82-game NHL schedule (Tampa Bay won the Cup in the 2020 Bubble Tournament and the 2021 shortened 56-game COVID schedule).
Read More: Kingerski: Credit Dubas, Reasons Said & Unsaid Why Sullivan Had to Go
In Sullivan’s nearly 10 seasons with the Penguins, he posted an impressive 409-255-89 record, becoming the Penguins’ all-time winningest coach. However, three straight playoff misses and a losing record this season were enough for general manager Kyle Dubas to terminate Sullivan, who had two years remaining on his Penguins contract.
Full details: https://t.co/UU43eQlhz6
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 2, 2025
“Mike Sullivan has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NHL,” Rangers GM Chris Drury said. “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. I’ve gotten to know Mike very well over the years, including as teammates in the 1997 World Championships, when he coached me as a player in New York and through our shared time working together with USA Hockey. As we began this process and Mike became an available option for us to speak with, it was immediately clear that he was the best coach to lead our team.”
Sullivan is also the Team USA Men’s Hockey coach for the 2026 Olympics.
The Rangers’ press release did not mention the rumored hiring of John Tortorella as Sullivan’s assistant coach. Sullivan and Tortorella coached Team USA in the Four Nations Face-Off tournament in February, and they spoke fondly of coaching together for the first time since Sullivan was Tortorella’s assistant through several stops, including New York and Vancouver.
Sullivan will take over the struggling team from fired coach Peter Laviolette. The Rangers were expected to compete for a Stanley Cup this season, but instead internal strife and distractions led the team to the 11th worst record in the league.
IMO, their gain and his gain, and our loss. He was simply not given good players. Now, please Dubas, I beg of you, do NOT hire Peter Laviolette. I’d take Dan Blysma before him. Ha.
I bet the Pens get the Ranger’s pick in ’26. With Sully on board, he and Drury are going to say- let’s take that pick at 11 this year. We will be much better next year and the pick will be in the 20’s. Sully wants to win now- is the story of his leaving the Pens.
His coaching the Rangers next year could legitimately hurt the value of the conveyed pick. Or the Rangers could be fooling themselves, and the Pens will have 2 high picks next year. Extra stakes on the decison to let Sully go.
Best wishes to Mike. I hope he wins another Cup there!
How could you?!?! 🤣
Very easily.
NYR hasn’t won a cup in 31 years.. Sully won’t be changing that
One thing is sure
That time will tell
(Only time will tell)
If you were wrong
The brightest ring around the moon
Will darken when I die.
oh dear Mike … I will miss you’re burner accounts around here
Not a burner. Ask Dan. I’ve been following Dan before Sully was even in tahn. I just have a different viewpoint than you. Is that not allowed here? Or are we here only to engage in group think?
Hey Teflon dude, don’t let the doorknob hit you in the ass on the way out.
The Legend of Teflon Mike is about to get its sternest test under the bright lights of the Big Apple. A veteran team that underachieves vs expectations annually….yep, that’s right up Teflon Mike’s alley. And he’s laughing all the way to the bank. Add Torts, and you have the makings of a smoking hot mess!
I’m glad Sullivan is gone for only one reason, maybe there’s a change we can stop hearing you whine about “Teflon Mike”. Give it up already…
He still won’t play the young players. 😉
He’s the greatest coach in NHL history. Scotty Bowman and Toe Blake and Al Arbour all pale in comparison. He just didn’t have the talent here in the Burgh. He should be back to winning the Cup next year and many years thereafter. I’m rooting for him. Honest.
You lack creativity in your writing.
Pot meet kettle. This from Stanley “No Talent” Kupp… Mr. One-Track Mind.
Says the guy who falls asleep chanting “Teflon Mike. Teflon Mike.”
Well, I upvoted you, but I’m probably in the minority of one. FSG is cancer, but it’s easier to hate Sully, Graves, Jarry, Nieto… You know, people in power can do no wrong, but your neighbor is to blame for all the wrongs in the world. Boy, I do hope that these toxic fans are the minority. Anyway, it’s time to stop looking at the comments section and wait patiently until FSG, along with Hextall, 4-eyes and all their catastrophic decisions, leave town. P. S. Everyone was hoping Toronto would lose, to prove Dubas wasn’t the problem. Keep hoping. Also,… Read more »
Thank you for the update vote. I appreciate it.
Your vote didn’t really help. Stanley was going for the all-time negative vote.
Wish Sully all the best in New York!
Wish it wasn’t to one of our hated rivals, but all the best to Sully.
Mike, please take along some of the barely average or lesser vets you wanted our GMs to get for you.
Sullivan and the Blueshirts are good match. The question is, was mismanagement or advanced age the reason for their decline this season? Like your heroes, this team may have maxed out already. Or not.
I was pretty sure he was going to the Rangers, but I wished it was with Boston. At least we’d see him less.
Dear Dan, please make this the last article that mentions Mike Sullivan for a good six-months. Thanks.
I second that! 🤣
Excellent! Rangers are sure to suck now!
How many times were we told “ No matter how many times you bring it up, Mike Sullivan is going nowhere!”
Stanley hit 241 on the meter reading.
Still less than the Teflon Mike idiots.
If the Rangers give him decent players that want to win, well we will see! I think coaching or managing is overrated. Players have more to say about winning or losing! I say thanks Players and staff for the two Stanley Cups! Wishing him luck in NY I cannot do though!
Some people think Pens fans were tough on Sully. PIT is a rice steamer compared to the pressure cooker of NY. Patience is non-existent.
See ya later MIke, cant say I wish you success with the ugh, Rangers. This move was long overdue for the team. Exciting times for our Penguins. Build it!
I would have blocked it. I don’t believe in letting people who are under contract to go to anyone in the same division, as a rule.
Thanks for everything, Sully. Enjoy your first round exits, New York.