On Monday, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that Mike Sullivan was fired as their head coach. Sullivan led the Pens to back-to-back Stanley Cup wins in 2016 and 2017. He has a record of 409-255-89 as the bench boss in Pittsburgh for the last 10 years. His services will be pursued by the growing list of NHL teams looking for a new head coach.
All the insiders predict that he will go to the New York Rangers. Sullivan has a $5.5 million contract that is good through the 2026-27 season. That will likely not be a deal breaker for general manager Chris Drury in New York. His team failed miserably after winning the Presidents’ Cup last season and missing the playoffs this season.
Even P.K. Subban believes that Sullivan will be the Rangers’ next head coach.
Whether or not the Rangers will win a Stanley Cup with Sullivan as their next head coach is still up for debate. It certainly gives them a respected, accomplished head coach who knows how to win. He is also accustomed to coaching star players, and he would have many on the Rangers’ roster if he is offered the job.
He may have some competition for the Rangers’ job with recent developments. Rick Tocchet has announced that he will not be back in Vancouver. While many feel he is a better fit in Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, don’t count him out for consideration in the Big Apple. With Tocchet being a former player for both Pennsylvania teams, he could take his pick on where to go.
“Family is a priority, and with my contract lapsing, this becomes the opportune time,” Tocchet said. “While I don’t know where I’m headed, or exactly how this will play out for me over the near term, I feel like this is the right time for me to explore other opportunities in and around hockey.”
It was also reported that the Anaheim Ducks have offered their open head coaching job to Joel Quenneville.
With multiple head coaching candidates available, Drury should escalate his intentions to hire Sullivan before another team grabs him. For Sullivan, it would be another opportunity to acquire his third Stanley Cup championship.
Sullivan is a proven winner who can handle NHL star players. He has coached the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson, and Kris Letang. He will be able to get results from a Rangers team that just didn’t perform this last season. The futures of players like Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafreniere, Chris Kreider, and K’Andre Miller could be tested. The team is way too talented to finish six points out of a wild-card spot.
It is too soon to predict how a Sullivan-led Rangers team may perform. One thing is certain, though: If any coach can correct the downfall the team experienced, then it’s Sullivan. He sticks to the basics and knows how to get everything from his players.
For the Penguins, Crosby was not a happy camper when the news of Sullivan’s firing was revealed to him by general manager Kyle Dubas. It has raised speculation that came about around the trade deadline that Crosby could be traded. Considering the close relationship he and Sullivan enjoyed, could Crosby request a trade to a contender during the offseason?
There are currently eight teams looking for a new head coach. They include the Boston Bruins, Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, Chicago Blackhawks, and the Seattle Kraken.
For what it’s worth, here are this writer’s predictions for vacancies behind the benches:
Boston Bruins: David Carle
Chicago Blackhawks: Jay Woodcroft
New York Rangers: Mike Sullivan
Pittsburgh Penguins: John Tortorella
Vancouver Canucks: Jeff Blashill
Anaheim Ducks: Joel Quenneville
Philadelphia Flyers: Rick Tocchet
Seattle Kraken: Gerard Gallant
Look, Sullivan will be the next New York Rangers head coach. While there are many vacancies, he is the best fit to lead the Rangers going forward. The Rangers want to get past their terrible showing for the 2024-25 season and the first big step is to hire a head coach of Sullivan’s stature. The players will respond to him, and the team will improve greatly next season.
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