Why Mike Sullivan’s ‘know-how and high demands’ should get Rangers back into playoffs next season
Itâs been a head-spinning offseason when it comes to coaching turnover in the NHL. Mike Sullivanâs move to the New York Rangers is one of eight changes already in the League, and thereâs still one vacancy remaining after Peter DeBoer was recently fired by the Dallas Stars after they lost to the Edmonton Oilers in five games in the Western Conference Final.
Itâs anyoneâs guess which team will have the most success in the long run after switching coaches. But Adam Proteau of The Hockey News believes Sullivan will be among those who will have the most immediate success.
In a recent article titled âWhich NHL Teams With New Coaches Will Make The Playoffs In 2025-26?,â Proteau predicted that the Rangers âhave a solid shot to make it back to the playoffsâ under Sullivan after missing them this past season for the first time in four years.
âSullivan brings his championship pedigree to Manhattan, and heâs going to face immediate and prolonged pressure to make Rangers fans forget about their catastrophic play this past season,â Proteau stated.
Proteau noted that the Rangers still have a talented roster. But he added that Sullivan will make a difference behind the bench, as well.
âTwo straight seasons with no postseason appearance would be abominable for the Blueshirts, but Sullivanâs know-how and high demands should get the Rangers back where theyâve been accustomed to,â Proteau said.
Related: Rangers reportedly among teams âbuzzing aroundâ Stars forward Jason Robertson
Mike Sullivan brings championship pedigree to Rangers
Sullivan is a two-time Stanley Cup Champion with a reputation for turning a good team into a great one. Thatâs what Sullivan did when he took over the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2015-16 and led them to back-to-back championships in 2016 and 2017, becoming the first coach to repeat since Glen Sather with the Edmonton Oilers in 1987 and 1988. The only other franchise that managed to repeat since was the 2020 and 2021 Tampa Bay Lightning under Jon Cooper, whoâs the longest-tenured coach currently in the NHL.
What made those glory days in Pittsburgh so successful under Sullivan wasnât just their pure talent, but their buy-in. He blended speed and structure, put his faith in stars like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and demanded full commitment from every player on both ends of the ice. Over his near-decade tenure with the Penguins, Sullivan coached in 14 playoff series. He did some of his best work in seasons when the Penguins were inundated with injuries but still reached the postseason.
Now, with the Florida Panthers eyeing a repeat of their own this postseason, the Rangers are desperately hoping Sullivan can build something similar in New York â a real Stanley Cup contender, not just a really good team that lacks championship mettle and falls short of the ultimate goal year after year.
What awaits Mike Sullivan in New York
Before anything, Sullivan must re-establish their defensive structure, something the Rangers severely lacked under Peter Laviolette last season. The Rangersâ defensive lapses were nightly, numerous, and ghastly. Whether itâs cleaning up zone exits, tightening gaps on the ice, or creating a more fluid pace between wingers and defensemen, Sullivanâs track record shows heâs got a plan to fix this group.
Under Sullivan the Rangers need to play faster, smarter hockey. His best Penguins teams thrived on speed, quick puck movement up the ice, and disciplined positioning. The question is whether or not the Rangers can adapt to the playing style, since they are used to a more free-flowing East-West offense. If Sullivan can get players to buy into his ideology, play more North-South, and commit to a 200-foot game, the Rangers should be in a good spot.
âSullivanâs biggest challenge will be to revitalize the Rangers defense and hope their offensive-minded players will show that last year was an aberration,â Proteau noted.
Related: Rangers reportedly eyeing free-agent defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov
Sullivan has the full support of general manager Chris Drury, and Drury has the full support of owner James Dolan. That leaves less wiggle room for the players to underperform again to the embarrassing degree they did this past season. In fact, before Sullivan coaches his first game behind the Rangers bench, there could be significant changes to the roster.
âEven with some presumed alterations to their roster, the Blueshirts have the talent to rebound under Sullivan and once again be a playoff team in the Metropolitan Division,â Proteau stated.
How the rest stack up with Mike Sullivan and the Rangers
Seven other franchises made changes behind the bench this offseason so far, and while few are in promising positions, others face long-term rebuilds with slim playoff hopes ahead.
Proteau was hopeful for Boston Bruins new hire Marco Strum, stating âSturmâs task is all about balancing the short-term needs of stars like David Pastrnak and Elias Lindholm with the future of youngsters like Fabian Lysell.â
He believes the Bruins experienced core could push them close to a postseason return, but did make it clear that the pressure is on.
As for Vancouver Canucks coach Adam Foote, he may have the most favorable setup. Heâs familiar with the Canucksâ core after serving as an assistant, and now gets to lead a team that features stars like Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson and Thatcher Demko. But after this past seasonâs soap opera, all bets are off in Vancouver, even with a new coach, though Proteau rated the Canucks as a virtual playoff lock next season.
âIf [Foote] can squeeze more pop out of their offense ⌠the Canucks should almost certainly be a playoff team again,â Proteau said.
Former Rangers assistant Dan Muse in Pittsburgh and ex-Islanders coach Lane Lambert with the Seattle Kraken are both stepping into transitioning franchises. Proteau suggested Lambert to âbe a patient bench bossâ as the Kraken continue to look for some consistency.
The hills to climb for the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks are real steep, since both of these teams . For the Blackhawks and new coach Jeff Blashill, they are are multiple pieces away from playoff contention and their rebuild is centered around Connor Bedard; while Joel Quenneville has plenty of good young talent with the Ducks, who are closer to popping than the Blackhawks.
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