NYR close to naming Mike Sullivan as new Head Coach UPD: Named

[The Crypto Guy]

Mercogliano mentioned that it's more likely the Rangers give the Penguins #11 this year because they view the 2026 draft to be much better than the 2025 draft. Think it's less likely the Rangers give up the 2026 1st.

That was BS. Very likely Rangers keep this years. Mercogliano is a hack and pulls shit from his ass.

Drury is not for a second going to give the indication that he expects the team next year to be worse than this year and say “yea we will suck next year even worse, so we want to make sure we have that pick”.

 

[Empoleon8771]

That was BS. Very likely Rangers keep this years. Mercogliano is a hack and pulls shit from his ass.

Drury is not for a second going to give the indication that he expects the team next year to be worse than this year and say “yea we will suck next year even worse, so we want to make sure we have that pick”.

The reason they'd give up the pick this year instead of next year is because they think the prospects in the 20-25 range next year are better than the prospects at 11 this year. It doesn't have to do with "being worse next year", it has to do with next year having better prospects.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

The thing that a lot of people are glossing over about Sullivan is that when he was promoted to the Penguins in 2015-16 he was able to bring his system and some of his players from Wilkes-Barre with him. He brought along a handful of guys that turned out to be very important to the two Stanley Cup victories. These were AHL players who were already having a lot of success already playing within his system, as well as a red hot Matt Murray playing at record-breaking levels. Sully also had the luxury of having a guy like Phil Kessel on the 3rd line, which he's not going to find anywhere else.

He's never been shown to have success building a team and system from the NHL level. Of course this has a lot to do with the GM's ability (or lack of ability) to build a good roster. I'm not intimately familiar with the Rangers roster, but this roster doesn't look like a situation where Sullivan will be able to have very much success.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

The reason they'd give up the pick this year instead of next year is because they think the prospects in the 20-25 range next year are better than the prospects at 11 this year. It doesn't have to do with "being worse next year", it has to do with next year having better prospects.

Yea but that garbage is said every year.

Fact is, a good player will drop to 11 this year, someone always drops. Whether they target and land that player is a different matter.

 

[Fatass]

No coach is changing the composition of that roster, where most of their core performers are aging and declining.

Maybe Shesterkin is better and they’re a playoff team next year, but don’t think they’ll be anything resembling a contender.

Yup. The big change is the coach. That roster (without JT Miller) were President trophy winners. They will be 105 + points next season.

 

[BigVegas17]

To NYR - Jansen Harkins
To ANH - 2027 1st round pick + future considerations

 

[Empoleon8771]

Yea but that garbage is said every year.

Fact is, a good player will drop to 11 this year, someone always drops. Whether they target and land that player is a different matter.

Every single source has said the 2025 draft is weak and the 2026 draft is strong. This isn't anything new.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

The problem is I really struggle to see how he can realistically do that with as little cap space and movable contracts as the Rangers have. There are some moves that I think make sense, but I just don't see how they have the cap space to make it work.

One move I think makes a lot of sense is sending Schneider to Buffalo for Byram. But how are the Rangers going to afford Byram's likely $6+ million extension? The Rangers desperately need puck movers on their defense and I think a Byram-Borgen 2nd pair would be completely solid, but how are they getting the money to make that work?

with the way the cap has and is exploding i don’t think any of the rangers contracts are immovable, outside of NMCs

 

[Jerzey Devil]

First it was Gallant was the savior then Laviolette. Sullivan is definitely the guy.

 

[thebeernerd]

Who had an absolute blast of a post season with the Rangers... once. So it was justified in the end.

As far as bad three-year deals go Drury gave one to Patrick Nemeth.

That's such a bad deal that the only time I've seen that name is when I lurk HF Rangers, because I sure as hell haven't heard his name otherwise.

 

[Fatass]

First it was Gallant was the savior then Laviolette. Sullivan is definitely the guy.

There will be the inevitable coaching bump. Add in a full year of JT Miller and the Rangers are definitely top 3 in that division.

 

[Empoleon8771]

with the way the cap has and is exploding i don’t think any of the rangers contracts are immovable, outside of NMCs

The issue is that all of their expensive deals have NMCs.

I don't think Sullivan will want Kreider to be moved, Kreider and Trocheck are definitely Sullivan favorites that I can't see getting moved. Zibanejad and Panarin have a full NMC that they likely won't waive. Who's even left there to open up money? Lafreniere?

 

[Saga of the Elk]

Rangers have no realistic chance to win a Cup until the Dolans decide to sell the franchise to an owner who will let the hockey professionals do their jobs.

Blaming Drury for this is ok but ultimately these calls are made in the owner's box.

 

[TGWL]

First it was Gallant was the savior then Laviolette. Sullivan is definitely the guy.

It's less about being a savior and more about giving them structure, accountability, and taking a step forward or in the right direction. Most fans didn't scream those coaches to be saviors. I'd say most fans don't really buy into any coach being a savior if the pieces aren't there, or show 0 effort.

 

[Duffy13]

The thing that a lot of people are glossing over about Sullivan is that when he was promoted to the Penguins in 2015-16 he was able to bring his system and some of his players from Wilkes-Barre with him. He brought along a handful of guys that turned out to be very important to the two Stanley Cup victories. These were AHL players who were already having a lot of success already playing within his system, as well as a red hot Matt Murray playing at record-breaking levels. Sully also had the luxury of having a guy like Phil Kessel on the 3rd line, which he's not going to find anywhere else.

He's never been shown to have success building a team and system from the NHL level. Of course this has a lot to do with the GM's ability (or lack of ability) to build a good roster. I'm not intimately familiar with the Rangers roster, but this roster doesn't look like a situation where Sullivan will be able to have very much success.

He was in WBS for 3 months, not much of a factor in those being his players and his system.

He's best with Assistant coaches who will press back at him and call him out, like Tocchet, J.Martin, guys who know their stuff and will not be a yes man. Once Tocchet and Martin left Sullivan didn't have anyone to call him out on roster makeup decisions and systems. He got complacent and played guys who reminded him of himself when he played, hence guys like Acciari and Nieto being played entirely way too much.

Hope Fox is ready for a boatload of ice time with Ruhwedel, Sullivan LOVES that guy

 

[Homelander]

 

[thebeernerd]

The problem is I really struggle to see how he can realistically do that with as little cap space and movable contracts as the Rangers have. There are some moves that I think make sense, but I just don't see how they have the cap space to make it work.

One move I think makes a lot of sense is sending Schneider to Buffalo for Byram. But how are the Rangers going to afford Byram's likely $6+ million extension? The Rangers desperately need puck movers on their defense and I think a Byram-Borgen 2nd pair would be completely solid, but how are they getting the money to make that work?

The operative word here is "try." I said this somewhere else, but Mika seems like he'll veto any trade involving him due to his full NMC, Panarin is still a useful player and not worth the PR hit for a team that trades him, and Kreider played hurt for months and it might be too late for a team to swing for him. I'm sure Drury wants to make a statement by trading one of the established guys but I don't think it's gonna happen. Most realistic guy is Kreider and even that's a long shot.

I expect one or two trades that Drury can point to going into next season and say, "Look, I tried." And that will probably involve low-hanging fruit like K'Andre Miller, who I think will end up making the Rangers look foolish in any trade.

 

[TGWL]

If anybody heard that loud sound, that was Zibanejad's sigh of relief.

 

[Fatass]

North of 30 million for Sully?

 

[tlk]

There will be the inevitable coaching bump. Add in a full year of JT Miller and the Rangers are definitely top 3 in that division.

We currently employ Jonny Brodzinski as the 3C.
Even if we make the post season which is possible, you don't go anywhere with this.

 

[TGWL]

North of 30 million for Sully?

35 I think. Probably 7 per year. He was making 5.5 with Penguins.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

He was in WBS for 3 months, not much of a factor in those being his players and his system.

He's best with Assistant coaches who will press back at him and call him out, like Tocchet, J.Martin, guys who know their stuff and will not be a yes man. Once Tocchet and Martin left Sullivan didn't have anyone to call him out on roster makeup decisions and systems. He got complacent and played guys who reminded him of himself when he played, hence guys like Acciari and Nieto being played entirely way too much.

Hope Fox is ready for a boatload of ice time with Ruhwedel, Sullivan LOVES that guy

No he wasn't there long, but they were still his guys and they were having a lot of success at that point in the season. I think there's something to be said about the fact that they were coming up with him from the Minors.

As you mentioned with Ruhwedel, Sullivan has an obsession with playing "his guys" who he likes and guys like him.

 

[Duffy13]

No he wasn't there long, but they were still his guys and they were having a lot of success at that point in the season. I think there's something to be said about the fact that they were coming up with him from the Minors.

As you mentioned with Ruhwedel, Sullivan has an obsession with playing "his guys" who he likes and guys like him.

That obsession is where he needs Assistants who will push back, maybe if the rumour is true that could be Torts.. He definitely says what's on his mind lol

 

[Fatass]

35 I think. Probably 7 per year.

Wow! Sully is doing for coaches’ salaries like Babs did when he signed with the Leafs. The hot coaching candidates are going to get a lot more. If Cooper leaves Tampa he’s up in that number too. Tocchet is hot for Philly. 30 + mil might be the new number for these guys.

 

[thebeernerd]

There will be the inevitable coaching bump. Add in a full year of JT Miller and the Rangers are definitely top 3 in that division.

"Definitely" is a stretch. I don't see enough of a fall-off from the top three for this to come to pass, since all three will have other players coming in. I can see them snatch a wild card spot, though.