Mike Sullivan will officially become the New York Rangers’ 38th head coach. 

The Rangers announced on Friday morning that Sullivan will be the team’s head coach just a few days after he parted ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

“Mike Sullivan has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NHL,” Drury said. “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. 

Mike Sullivan Is Reportedly In Advanced Talks To Become Rangers’ Head Coach With John Tortorella Expected To Join Staff Mike Sullivan is expected to be the New York Rangers’ 38th head coach.

“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.”

This comes after a few days of rampant rumors linking Sullivan to the Rangers as it finally all came to fruition. 

Sullivan served as an assistant coach for the Rangers from 2009-2013 under John Tortorella. 

“I would like to welcome Mike back to the Rangers organization,” Rangers owner James Dolan said. “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.”

The 57-year-old coached the Penguins for ten seasons and won two Stanley Cups during his long tenure in Pittsburgh. 

The exact term and finances of Sullivan’s contract remain undisclosed for now, although ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that it will likely be one of the richest coaching contracts in NHL history.

A new era in The Big Apple starts now with Sullivan.

According to The Hockey News’s very own Diandra Loux from the Tampa Bay Lightning team page, Oliver Bjorkstrand suffered a very serious injury while playing for the Lightning.

The former Columbus Blue Jacket was traded from the Seattle Kraken to the Lightning at the March 7 NHL Trade Deadline along with Yanni Gourde. Unfortunately, he was injured and missed the entirety of the playoffs.

He was originally hurt on April 11 against the Detroit Red Wings, and it appears the injury was far worse than initially feared. Bjorkstrand suffered Compartment Syndrome.

This happens when there is too much pressure around your muscles. In Bjorkstrand's case, it required him to be rushed to the hospital at 2 a.m. for emergency surgery to fix the issue.

As Diandra reported via X, there were signs of swelling and internal bleeding, which led to him going to the hospital.

GM Julien BriseBois said Victor Hedman played with a broken foot.

Oliver Bjorkstrand was injured on April 11th. Woke up with swelling and signs of bleeding. He was rushed to the ER at 2am. Had surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. #GoBolts

— Diandra Loux (@Diandra_loux) May 2, 2025

This injury is similar to the one Ryan Johansen suffered as a member of the Nashville Predators back in 2017.

The injury is very serious because the fluid and blood get trapped inside the muscle, causing it to swell. If not treated immediately, it can cause major complications, including the potential loss of the affected limb.

Thankfully, in Bjorkstrand’s case, it was caught early and treated. Lightning GM Julien BriseBois said he is expected to make a full recovery and will be ready for the start of the 2025-26 NHL season.

2025 Columbus Blue Jackets Free Agent Targets: Matt DucheneYesterday, we covered the possibility of the Columbus Blue Jackets targeting Mitch Marner or Brock Boeser. With approximately $40 million in cap space, Don Waddell will want to do something. Sean Monahan Voted As Masterton Trophy FinalistThe National Hockey League has announced that Columbus Blue Jackets forward Sean Monahan has been named a finalist for the Masterton Trophy.  Blue Jackets Have A General Idea Of Their First Round Draft Position With Minnesota Being EliminatedWith the Vegas Golden Knights eliminating the Minnesota Wild last night, Don Waddell will have two top-20 draft picks in the upcoming NHL Draft. David Savard’s Career Ends With First-Round ExitAs per our report before the 2025 NHL playoffs kicked off, David Savard has officially called it a career.

It’s dressing room clear-out day for the Montreal Canadiens today, and as usual, we are finding out plenty of information about what happened in both the regular season and the playoffs.

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Unsurprisingly, one of the first questions asked of Samuel Montembeault was about the injury he sustained in the first-round series against the Washington Capitals. The netminder explained that he had torn two of the three muscles in his groin and that while he would have liked to continue, he just couldn’t.

The injury would have ruled him out for two weeks, meaning that he could have returned in the second round had the Canadiens made it, but it wasn’t to be. He will not need surgery to repair the damage, but it will prevent him from attending the World Championships.

The Becancour native never had such a busy season as he had this year. The masked man played in 62 games, which is almost twice his usual workload, and he can be proud of his accomplishments. He won 30 games for the first time in his career, with a 31-24-7 record, a 2.80 goals-against average, and a .902 save percentage. Before this season, he had only recorded a single shutout in the NHL, but he got four more this year.

I think Sam Montembeault's most impressive attribute is his puck tracking. He's one of the best in the NHL at it.

This huge save is a great example. I can't believe he tracked this through the traffic and was able to react to get his toe on the redirect. Awesome stuff. pic.twitter.com/6DRjvzSG6w

— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) April 24, 2025

While he conceded that he lacked consistency at one point, he made the required adjustments and was an integral part of the Canadiens’ push for the playoffs. In an ideal world, Montembeault wouldn’t have been as busy, but Cayden Primeau’s struggles in the NHL left the organization with very few options.

Jakub Dobes’ arrival did help, but next season, if he is once again Montembeault’s backup, he will need to see more action to ensure that the number one isn’t overworked. We’ll never know, but perhaps if he didn’t have that big of a workload, he wouldn’t have sustained an injury in game three.

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The Chicago Blackhawks are in the market for a head coach. One option that was presented to the league last week, Mike Sullivan, is already off the board. Not even a week after being fired by the Pittsburgh Penguins, he has been hired by the New York Rangers. 

Sullivan will be the 38th head coach in New York Rangers history and will be the highest paid bench boss in NHL history. The fact that it happened this quickly makes you wonder if he was ever even available to anybody else. The Blackhawks likely never even had a chance. 

New York Rangers (@NYRangers) on XThe 38th Head Coach in #NYR history. Welcome (back) to Broadway, Sully!

With David Carle pulling his name out of the consideration hat, that is two top coaching candidates off the board. That does not mean that that the Blackhawks can’t make a good hire. It does mean that the hunt for the next great coach in franchise history continues. 

What is it that Sullivan would have brought to the table? Well, the thing that makes him the most unique out of every option is his championship pedigree. Coaches with multiple Stanley Cups don’t come around too often. 

With that said, the Blackhawks just need someone right now that will get the most out of young players. The search continues as Kyle Davidson is out there putting his best foot forward to make the right hire. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

Former Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Mike Sullivan has a new home. After a decade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Sullivan has agreed to become the next head coach of the New York Rangers. While details of the contract have not been released, it is rumoured to be a five-year deal that will make Sullivan the highest-paid coach in the NHL. 

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Due to his ties with the Canucks, Sullivan's name did come up when discussing who should replace Rick Tocchet. As mentioned, Sullivan did spend time as an assistant coach with the organization during the 2013-14 season and was named interim head coach during John Tortorella's six-game suspension. Sullivan also has ties to Jim Rutherford, as the two won multiple Stanley Cups with the Penguins.

Since his days in Vancouver, Sullivan has become one of the most successful coaches in the NHL. His regular-season record is 479-311-15-112, which ranks 32nd all-time. Sullivan was also named Head Coach of Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off and is projected to be behind the bench for the Americans at the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

With Sullivan off the board, the Canucks must turn their focus to other available coaches. While it was unlikely that Sullivan would have come to Vancouver, potentially adding him to the organization would have been a significant moment. Overall, it is a smart hire by the Rangers, who like the Canucks, are looking to get back into the playoffs in 2026. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

Well, it's official.

After just four days on the open market as a head coaching option, ex-Pittsburgh Penguins bench boss Mike Sullivan has offically been named the 38th head coach in New York Rangers history.

The announcement came Friday morning via Rangers general manager Chris Drury.

New York Rangers Hire Coach Mike Sullivan: 'Mike Brings A Championship-Level Presence'The New York Rangers named Mike Sullivan their new coach on Friday.

“Mike Sullivan has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NHL,” Drury said in a statement. “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.”

After a decade at the helm, the Penguins and POHO/GM Kyle Dubas parted ways with Sullivan on Monday. In those 10 seasons with Pittsburgh, the team won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017 and went 409-255-89 during the regular season. He is the winningest coach in Penguins' franchise history and is 15th all-time in coaching wins with a single franchise.

Sullivan was also head coach of the Boston Bruins from 2003-06, and he held subsequent assistant coaching gigs with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks. Prior to joining the Penguins organization in 2015, he was also a player development coach for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Sullivan's international experience aided in his hire, too, as he led Team USA during the 4 Nations Face-off tournament in February and will be the head coach of the men's hockey team at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy. 

“I would like to welcome Mike back to the Rangers organization,” said James L. Dolan, Executive Chairman and CEO of MSG. “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.”

According to a report by ESPN's Emily Kaplan, the contract is a five-year deal with the highest average annual value awarded to a head coach in NHL history.

'I Started To Think That It May Just Be Time': Takeaways From Kyle Dubas's Press Conference Regarding Departure Of Mike SullivanOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas shook the hockey world when he announced that head coach Mike Sullivan would not be returning to coach the Penguins in 2025-26.

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The Anaheim Ducks parted ways with head coach Greg Cronin on April 19, following his second season behind the Ducks’ bench.

“It’s much like the way I took the approach last time,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said when asked about the upcoming hiring process during his media availability following Cronin’s firing. “The net’s going to be cast wide. I’m not going to really eliminate any options as far as my approach to the next coach.”

Eight teams are in need of a new head coach behind their respective benches heading into the 2025-26 season, and a laundry list of available candidates with a wide range of experience are on the market.

“Am I looking for some sort of specific coach? No,” Verbeek said. “I’m going to go through the interview process and I will probe and poke and ask questions (about) certain things that I think our group needs and see how it all shakes down.

“I’m open to any type of coach at this point. I’m not shutting anything down. Now, timeline. We’re going to start the search and start to make a list immediately. I really don’t have a timeline on it. I’m going to look to hire the best candidate for this team and what it needs moving forward.”

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4-26-25

Just one week later, on April 26, the first sizable news around general manager Pat Verbeek’s coaching search surfaced.

ESPN’s John Buccigross sent a cryptic post on social media of side-by-side images of controversial (to say the least) three-time Stanley Cup-winning head coach Joel Quenneville and a family of Ducks.

Nearly four hours after Buccigross’ post, James Murphy of RG Media reported that a “well-connected NHL source” told him the Ducks offered Quenneville their open head coaching job, a very surprising potential development considering Verbeek’s statements alluding to casting a wide net and being open to any coach.

“The job is his if he wants it, and I’d be stunned if he doesn’t take it,” Murphy’s source relayed to him. “I’d say it’s 99.999999 percent he becomes the next head coach in Anaheim.”

The Ducks later confirmed that Murphy’s report was false and that interviews will continue.

Roughly an hour and a half later, PHWA President Frank Seravalli from DailyFaceoff.com slightly contradicted Murphy’s report, confirming the Ducks interviewed Quenneville, but stated the team is early in their process.

“Joel Quenneville recently interviewed for the (Ducks) head coaching vacancy,” Seravalli reported on social media. “He is a strong candidate but it’s still early in the process, multiple interviews to come in Anaheim.”

4-27-25

The IIHF U18 World Championship is underway in Frisco, Texas, the final big on-ice draft event of the season. Making up most of the attendance numbers are NHL coaches, scouts, media, and family members of players.

Sean Shapiro of DLLS Sports and Elite Prospects offered an update on the Anaheim coaching search via social media.

“Chatter at U18s from some in the NHL coaching circles is that Anaheim has interviewed, but not offered the job to anyone,” Shapiro said.

Elliotte Friedman from SportsNet is one of the NHL's premier insiders. He gave his thoughts on Monday’s rendition of his “32 Thoughts” podcast.

“The way I understand it, he’s definitely a serious candidate there, and we’ll see if he ends up being the guy. But he’s definitely a serious candidate. I don’t think that’s the only team that’s interested in him.

“I think the Ducks are very serious about it from a hockey perspective. You’ve heard Pat Verbeek say that they want to make the playoffs next year, and that’s why I think he’s looking at Quenneville, and Quenneville is a possibility. And I think the two of them met face-to-face last week.

“The bottom line is the Ducks are considering him, and he is a very serious contender for their job.”

4-30-25

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on the latest installment of “The Ray & Dregs Hockey Podcast” that the Ducks are expected to interview Quenneville a second time.

“Some wanted to connect Joel Quenneville to (Rangers GM Chris) Drury because of their Colorado days,” Dreger said. “I know that Q is—he’s expected to get a second interview with the Anaheim Ducks, so we’ll see how things play out there.”

5-1-25

Pierre LeBrun from TSN, one of the NHL’s premier insiders, reported on social media that the Ducks have contacted several coaches in regards to filling their head coaching vacancy while confirming they intend to interview Quenneville a second time.

“Hearing Ducks have interviewed Jay Woodcroft,” LeBrun said. “Also hear Ducks GM Pat Verbeek recently met with David Carle. Believe Anaheim has also made contact with Mike Sullivan. As reported by others, Joel Quenneville will soon get a second interview. Other names in mix. Wide search by Ducks.”

Less than one hour later, Vince Mercogliano, who covers the New York Rangers for USA Today, reported on social media the Rangers were heading toward hiring Sullivan as their next head coach. 

"The (Rangers) haven't confirmed or announced anything officially yet, but it sounds like things are getting close and very much trending toward Mike Sullivan becoming the 38th head coach in franchise history." 

5-2-25

To make it official, early on May 2, the Rangers announced they hired Sullivan as their head coach, making him the first coaching hire of the 2025 offseason and eliminating him from contention for the Ducks' job.

Linked Names

Joel Quenneville: Quenneville (66) sits second on the NHL’s all-time wins list for head coaches with 969. He hasn’t coached a game since Oct. 28, 2021. He resigned from his position as head coach of the Florida Panthers following the results of Jenner & Block’s investigation into the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks.

David Carle: Carle (35) recently withdrew himself from the running for head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. He is possibly the most clamored-for coach on the market. Carle has coached the University of Denver to two NCAA championships and Team USA to back-to-back World Junior Championship gold medals.

Jay Woodcroft: Woodcroft (48) was relieved of his position as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers just 13 games into 2023-24 and after assuming the position in the middle of 2021-22. He has a 79-41-13 record in 133 games behind an NHL bench, and the Oilers, months after parting ways, made it to game seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

Mike Sullivan (Hired-New York Rangers): The Pittsburgh Penguins let Sullivan (57) go on April 28. He won two Stanley Cups with the Pens in 2016 and 2017 as their head coach, and his appearance on the market immediately made him one of the most desirable targets for one of the eight franchises in need.

This piece will see continued updates as new information surfaces

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Every Spring in recent memory, the Toronto Maple Leafs make the playoffs, and their fan base thinks that this could be the year. It’s hard to blame them, considering they have an excellent “Core Four” or five, but they fall short every year.

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Before Thursday night, they could only get to the second round once when they dispatched the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022-23. That year, they thought it would be for sure; not only had they made it to the second round, but the Florida Panthers had taken care of their nemesis, the Boston Bruins, in the first round.

Toronto fans went from chanting “We want Florida! We want Florida!” to lamenting yet another defeat when the Sunshine State outfit eliminated their favourite in just five games. Then, last year, they had to take on the Bruins one more time, and after Boston took a 3-1 lead, the Leafs managed to claw their way back in the series. Unfortunately, they dropped game seven 2-1 in overtime, and it was back to the drawing board.

They did not make that many changes. The Core Four stayed. They resigned Max Domi and brought in Max Pacioretty on a professional tryout contract. The former Montreal Canadiens captain won his gamble and made the team, and on Thursday night, he saved the team.

The Connecticut native was drafted 22nd overall by the Habs in the 2007 draft and spent 10 years playing for the Canadiens. He acted as captain for three seasons and scored 448 points (30th in franchise history) in 626 regular-season games. Pacioretty made the playoffs with the Canadiens four times and scored 19 points in 38 games.

The relationship with the Canadiens didn’t end well, but he will forever be remembered as the player who got the Habs their current captain, Nick Suzuki. Seven years after the trade, he’s become a cornerstone of Montreal’s team while the former captain plays for a fourth team.

For the fifth year in a row, Pacioretty struggled with injuries and could only suit up for 37 games, putting up 13 points in the regular season. In the first round series against the Ottawa Senators, he only suited up for four games in the Battle of Ontario, but he made an impact.

With the score tied at 2-2 and just over five minutes left, the former Canadiens’ captain scored the game-winning goal with assists from another Hab in Domi and Pontus Holmberg. William Nylander then sealed the deal with an empty-netter, and just like that, for the second time in three years, the Maple Leafs moved on to the second round.

MAX. PACIORETTY.@Rogers | #LeafsForeverpic.twitter.com/f14XvAE272

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) May 2, 2025

They’ll now be taking on the Canadiens’ first-round opponent, the Washington Capitals, and it will be interesting to see how the Leafs’ skilled forwards react to the Caps' tough, punishing brand of hockey. Will Pacioretty remain in the top six alongside John Tavares and Nylander? Time and Craig Berube will tell.

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