The New York Rangers have officially announced the hiring of Mike Sullivan as their new head coach, just days after he parted ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sullivan's contract spans five years, making him the highest-paid coach in NHL history, according to sources reported by ESPN's Emily Kaplan. Previously, the record was held by Mike Babcock, who earned $6.25 million annually during his tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
General manager Chris Drury made the announcement on Friday, revealing that Sullivan was the top candidate for the position. Drury emphasized that Sullivan’s championship-level experience was crucial for the team’s aspirations. “Mike brings a championship-level presence behind the bench,” Drury stated. “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 takes over the coaching duties from Peter Laviolette, who was let go after the Rangers failed to make the playoffs, despite a strong run to the Eastern Conference Finals the previous year. Sullivan, renowned for coaching the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017, faces the challenge of transforming the Rangers into immediate contenders once again.
Owner James Dolan expressed his enthusiasm for the new appointment, stating, “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. I would like to welcome Mike back to the Rangers organization.” Sullivan, aged 57, previously served as an assistant coach for the Rangers from 2009 to 2013 under John Tortorella, who remains a close friend and confidant.
During his time as an assistant, Sullivan coached Drury and has collaborated with him professionally, including at the recent 4 Nations Face-Off in February. Both are also part of the U.S. team for the upcoming 2026 Milan Olympics. While Tortorella was considered for a position on Sullivan's staff, reports indicate he will not be joining at this time.
As Sullivan joins the Rangers, there are currently seven teams in the NHL searching for head coaches, including the Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, Seattle Kraken, and Vancouver Canucks. Teams that initially reached out to Sullivan will now need to pivot to other experienced coaching options, such as Rick Tocchet, Joel Quenneville, and Laviolette, along with a few successful college coaches like Denver’s David Carle and Western Michigan’s Pat Ferschweiler.
With Sullivan at the helm, the New York Rangers are poised to enter a new era, aiming for success and stability in the competitive landscape of the NHL.
