Rangers Hire Mike Sullivan: Drury’s Last Effort For this Core

Back-to-back Stanley Cups with Penguins

If you’re looking for Sullivan’s most impressive qualification, you don’t need to look further than those back-to-back championships. After taking over midseason in December 2015 (talk about a tough spot), he guided Pittsburgh to consecutive Stanley Cup victories in 2016 and 2017. That puts him in seriously rare company – just the sixth head coach in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup after being hired mid-season.

His 409 wins make him the all-time victories leader in Penguins history. Stop and think about that for a second – the most wins EVER for one of the league’s most storied franchises. He also ranks 15th all-time in coaching wins with a single franchise.

I don’t think there’s another available coach with Sullivan’s experience handling superstar personalities. In Pittsburgh, he built deep connections with franchise icons Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. This history of getting the most from elite talent could be exactly what the Rangers’ stars need. Beyond his NHL success, Sullivan brings serious international credentials to the table. He led Team USA during the recent 4 Nations tournament and will coach the 2026 Olympic team in Milan.

How Sullivan’s Style Could Reshape the Rangers

If you’ve watched any Rangers games last season, you know their defensive zone coverage was a mess. Sullivan’s teams don’t play that way. Throughout his Pittsburgh years, he hammered home positional awareness and gap control. His championship Penguins squad in 2016 allowed just 2.43 goals against in his championship 2016 season. One big change Rangers forwards will hate at first? They’ll actually need to backcheck. I bet some of these guys think the red line is just for decoration right now. The team ranked 30th in high-danger chances allowed per game last season – a stat Sullivan will circle in red marker on day one.

Look, Sullivan’s got the Stanley Cup rings and the impressive resume, but let’s not kid ourselves – he’s walking into a situation with some serious hurdles to clear. Even championship coaches need the right pieces in place, and the Rangers present a mixed bag of talent and troubles that might test even Sullivan’s proven methods.

Roster uncertainty and cap constraints

The financial picture isn’t pretty for Sullivan to work with. The Rangers maxed out their 2023-24 salary cap at $83.5 million with basically pennies left over. Their big three – Zibanejad, Kreider, and Panarin – eat up massive chunks of cap space at 10.18%, 7.78%, and 13.94% respectively. That’s a whole lot of money tied up in just a few players.

This tight cap situation means Sullivan can’t expect many reinforcements coming through the door. To make matters worse, the core isn’t exactly in its prime years anymore. Kreider’s 33, Zibanejad’s 31, and these veterans represent major investments with potentially diminishing returns. It’s that awkward spot where you’re paying for past performance while hoping the decline hasn’t started yet. I see some eerie parallels to Sullivan’s final years in Pittsburgh, where his aging core couldn’t execute his system as effectively. The Rangers roster makeup feels like déjà vu – talented but getting older by the minute.

Kreider’s last chance?

Chris Kreider’s connection with Sullivan could be his career lifeline. The veteran winger fell off a cliff late last season, but there’s history here – Kreider developed under Sullivan from 2009-2013 when he was the Rangers assistant.

They also reconnected at the 4 Nations Face-Off recently. This familiarity might be exactly what reignites Kreider’s scoring touch and leadership. Sullivan knows how to deploy him where he’s most dangerous – causing havoc in front of the net. Unlike some coaches who are scared to bench their big names, Sullivan won’t hesitate to sit anyone not buying in. That might be exactly what some of the younger Rangers need to finally find consistency in their game.

Managing star players like Panarin and Zibanejad

If you ask me, handling the stars might be Sullivan’s toughest job. These guys put up points, but defensively? Yikes. Zibanejad ranked 601st out of 610 players in expected goals against per 60 minutes. That’s not a typo – 601st! Kreider wasn’t exactly a Selke candidate either at 563rd.

Sullivan first needs these stars to buy into his system. He’s got to somehow get defensive commitment from guys who’ve been allowed to focus almost exclusively on offense. Previous coaches tried and failed at this balancing act, so we’ll see if Sullivan’s championship pedigree gives him the credibility others lacked.

The chemistry problems in that Rangers locker room aren’t exactly a well-kept secret. Last season was a mess behind the scenes, largely stemming from how management handled captain Jacob Trouba and Barclay Goodrow. When you’ve got issues with your captain’s situation, that’s never good for team unity.

When players start talking about locker room tension to the media, you know it’s bad. The Rangers have talent – no doubt about that. But can Sullivan navigate these choppy waters to create something special? That’s the million-dollar question heading into next season.

New Man Behind The Bench

Let me tell you, the Sullivan era marks a huge turning point for the Rangers organization. After years of that frustrating coaching merry-go-round, New York finally landed a proven champion with actual staying power. Those back-to-back Stanley Cups don’t lie – they instantly give him credibility with both the players and fans who’ve been starving for consistency.

Sullivan’s defensive mindset tackles the Rangers’ biggest weakness head-on. They were absolutely dreadful last season in high-danger chances allowed – practically rolling out the red carpet in their defensive zone. His structured system could flip this vulnerability into a strength if the players buy in.

Beyond X’s and O’s, Sullivan brings something this team desperately needs – real accountability. His no-BS leadership style should reset a locker room that’s been fractured and underperforming. Star players like Panarin and Zibanejad better adapt to his two-way expectations or they’ll find themselves watching from the bench, big contracts or not. Sullivan isn’t the type to play favorites. Now, I’m not saying it’ll be smooth sailing. The salary cap situation is a nightmare with aging veterans eating up huge chunks of payroll. But if you look at Sullivan’s history, he’s shown he can squeeze maximum value from imperfect rosters during his Pittsburgh days.

The Sullivan-Drury connection might be the most underrated part of this whole deal. Their long-standing relationship means coach and management are finally on the same page. This partnership could end that ridiculous coaching carousel where nobody gets more than two seasons to prove themselves. The championship window for New York isn’t slammed shut yet – it just needs the right person to pry it back open.