Rangers hire Mike Sullivan as head coach

The New York Rangers officially named Mike Sullivan their new head coach on Friday, the team announced.

Sullivan's contract is expected to be one of the most lucrative in NHL history for a head coach, ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported Thursday.

"Mike Sullivan has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NHL," Rangers general manager Chris 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."

Sullivan spent the last decade with the Pittsburgh Penguins and won back-to-back Stanley Cups in his first two years on the job in 2016 and 2017.

The 57-year-old was considered one of the most highly sought-after coaches in a market that now includes seven active vacancies. The Anaheim Ducks were reportedly among the teams interested in his services.

Sullivan also spent two seasons as head coach of the Boston Bruins from 2003-06. His 479 career wins are the 32nd most in NHL history.

The Massachusetts native guided Team USA to a second-place finish at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. He's also set to lead the Americans at the 2026 Olympics in Milan.

The Rangers are coming off a highly disappointing season. They went from winning the Presidents' Trophy and making the Eastern Conference Final in 2024 to missing the playoffs entirely in 2025 under Peter Laviolette.

The roster is still built to win now, though. Many members of the team's core - Artemi Panarin, J.T. Miller, Mika Zibanejad, and Chris Kreider - are over the age of 30. Adam Fox (27) and Igor Shesterkin (29) are among the exceptions.