The Rangers have named Mike Sullivan as the 38th head coach in franchise history, as he will bring a Stanley Cup pedigree to New York as the Blueshirts look to rebound from one of their most disappointing seasons in recent memory.
Sullivan, who recently parted ways with the Penguins after spending a decade behind their bench, won back-to-back Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh, the only American-born head coach in league history to win multiple championships.
“Mike Sullivan has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NHL,” team president and general manager Chris Drury said in a press release. “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 boasts 479 wins in 917 games as a head coach, split between the Penguins and Bruins. Pittsburgh missed the playoffs this year as they continue to transition from their aging championship roster, and now, he will take on a Rangers squad that contains a core which has been heavily criticized after becoming just the fourth team ever to miss the playoffs a year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy.
How does Boomer like the move? He says it’s the one he wanted as soon as Peter Laviolette was let go, and he believes the bulk of the fanbase will agree that they have brought in a much-needed culture changer.
“It’s kind of like bringing in Pat Riley to your team,” Boomer said.