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

[Paper]

Lol, I doubt it's true but poor Ranger fans if it is.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Lol, I doubt it's true but poor Ranger fans if it is.

Mate, he literally signed to be the new Rangers coach.

Unless Sullivan actually humbles himself, good luck seeing improvements in the young forwards under him. He's been notorious the past few seasons for opting to over use useless grinding veterans in favor of playing the kids (unless injuries force his hand).

It's one of the (many) reasons I'm glad he's gone from the Pens. I didn't want him anywhere near being in charge of the rebuild, when the Pens go full youth movement and Sullivan instead will just play these random 30 year old 4th liners all the time instead of developing the youth.

Sullivan absolutely isn't the type to be humbled at all, he would just blame players for not executing his brilliant system that apparently he can't explain at all to reporters when they ask him about it or if they ask him what adjustments he made because he can't be bothered to go into detail about it.

He's an ignorant wanker and good riddance, Rangers fans will find out soon enough. It'll be a good start but then the Sullyisms will start to creep in...he will start to play the scrubs you wish to never see get minutes, get way too many minutes and be allowed to make mistakes and not be held accountable while he will seemingly bench young players for lesser mistakes. He will then shorten the bench when he shouldn't and also mess up L2 to pander to L1 because that's his biggest go to move.

He will tell these Rangers fans how he likes to keep his forwards units in pairs and have one forward interchangeable and then not do any of that at all. I am curious how he handles Rempe, if his history with very physical players that can fight is to be taken into consideration, Rempe should maybe start signing very short term leases.

 

[Coffee]

Lol, I doubt it's true but poor Ranger fans if it is.

It’s a done deal m8

 

[Penguin Suited Up]

Good for Sully. Wish him all the best.

 

[Kevin27nyi]

Lol, I doubt it's true but poor Ranger fans if it is.

Yeah I don't see it happening either

 

[Hunter Gathers]

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.

Not sure one can post something more ignorant than this. Dolan doesn't meddle in the Rangers at all. All he does is "let the hockey professionals do their jobs."

Dolan is an asshole. But he's one of the most hands-off NHL owners in existence.

 

[Mothmann78]

I'm not sure he's a "good" coach because a hallmark of being a good coach is making adjustments when what you're trying to do isn't working. Sullivan has one "system" and will ram it down your throat even if the other team is countering it.

The other issue (and it kind of goes with the first) is he doesn't adjust his system based on his roster. One of the issues with his last 7 years with the Pens was he wanted them to play an incredibly fast paced, dump the puck and beat the opposition to the puck style. It worked when they had the wheels to do that in 2016, but he never changed that when it was clear the Pens didn't have the roster to run a "fast" system and should have opted for a more puck possession style, methodical approach.

If the Rangers have the skaters to play like the fastest forechecking team in the league and all their players buy in to a lot of chip and chase and not holding on for possession, then they might be fine. But if they're not one of the fastest teams in the league, good luck. Shesterkin's going to have to be Vezina caliber to offset the nightly shitshow.

Oh we’re f***ed. We have the slowest team in the league.

 

[Eggtimer]

I would think the Rangers make the playoffs next year . They were president trophy winners with essentially the same roster minus Miller . The started this season strong . They have the ability to play good hockey and I think they will under Sullivan . Who is to say Sullivan has to and will use a set system exactly like he did in Pitt ? He will make adjustments according to the roster he has . I’m guessing the Rangers make the playoffs next year and do so quite comfortably. Just hopefully not at the expense of my Devils .
The don’t get why everyone keeps saying Sullivan will use this system that doesn’t fit the Rangers roster . I’m sure the man is smart enough to develop a system that fits and doesn’t just copy and paste one that isn’t suited .

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

I would think the Rangers make the playoffs next year . They were president trophy winners with essentially the same roster minus Miller . The started this season strong . They have the ability to play good hockey and I think they will under Sullivan . Who is to say Sullivan has to and will use a set system exactly like he did in Pitt ? He will make adjustments according to the roster he has . I’m guessing the Rangers make the playoffs next year and do so quite comfortably. Just hopefully not at the expense of my Devils .
The don’t get why everyone keeps saying Sullivan will use this system that doesn’t fit the Rangers roster . I’m sure the man is smart enough to develop a system that fits and doesn’t just copy and paste one that isn’t suited .

The bolded is exactly the issue. He literally did that in Pittsburgh (insisted on running a system that didn't fit the roster). Your bolded two sentences are literally THE BIGGEST ISSUE with him during his past 7 seasons in Pittsburgh. He insisted on a system/style of play that did NOT suit the roster he had available to him.

So you ask why people keep saying Sullivan will use a system that doesn't fit the Rangers' roster? Because we've got the last 7+ seasons of evidence of him doing that very thing in Pittsburgh.

 

[Fatass]

The bolded is exactly the issue. He literally did that in Pittsburgh (insisted on running a system that didn't fit the roster). Your bolded two sentences are literally THE BIGGEST ISSUE with him during his past 7 seasons in Pittsburgh. He insisted on a system/style of play that did NOT suit the roster he had available to him.

So you ask why people keep saying Sullivan will use a system that doesn't fit the Rangers' roster? Because we've got the last 7+ seasons of evidence of him doing that very thing in Pittsburgh.

Sully came into a Pit club with an aging core and was able to squeeze enough juice out of them to win two Cups. He will squeeze whatever juice left in that Rangers’ core too. Imo there’s not enough there for a Cup but certainly he’s getting them into the top three of their division.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Oh we’re f***ed. We have the slowest team in the league.

Oh you think you’re slow now, Sullivan will have them playing even slower because they will need to play his system which will make zero sense to them and make them second guess every single thing they do with the puck and away from it. It’ll make you question if a player you thought skated well, was slow all along because of Sullivan.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Sully came into a Pit club with an aging core and was able to squeeze enough juice out of them to win two Cups. He will squeeze whatever juice left in that Rangers’ core too. Imo there’s not enough there for a Cup but certainly he’s getting them into the top three of their division.

No, Sullivan came on board and JR made some moves for the Penguins to get faster while also utilizing more of the lads from WBS as well as Rick Tocchet being a fantastic Assistant that was the go between for him and the players that Sullivan desperately needed. Tocchet pushed back on things Sullivan wanted to do and helped with the powerplay, it was a collaboration. The moment Tocchet left and he didn’t have that voice in the room anymore, he basically just did what he thought was best, 100% his system and style and the team was an absolute shit show. He started to beef with Kessel, Cole, Malkin, and whined about Reaves and openly pined for Big Game Brass who he then misused the shit out of.

He’s a coach that needs a voice that will tell him “Mike, are you intentionally being stupid or is that stupid idea legitimately something you think works?” Like Rick did. He loves to surround himself with yes men and weak voice wankers like Quinn, Recchi, etc.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

How many coaches as this group killed already?

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

How many coaches as this group killed already?

One. Gallant., Laviolette and Sullivan are basically the same. The idiot keeps hiring the same coacihng style over and over again.

 

[LPHabsFan]

No, Sullivan came on board and JR made some moves for the Penguins to get faster while also utilizing more of the lads from WBS as well as Rick Tocchet being a fantastic Assistant that was the go between for him and the players that Sullivan desperately needed. Tocchet pushed back on things Sullivan wanted to do and helped with the powerplay, it was a collaboration. The moment Tocchet left and he didn’t have that voice in the room anymore, he basically just did what he thought was best, 100% his system and style and the team was an absolute shit show. He started to beef with Kessel, Cole, Malkin, and whined about Reaves and openly pined for Big Game Brass who he then misused the shit out of.

He’s a coach that needs a voice that will tell him “Mike, are you intentionally being stupid or is that stupid idea legitimately something you think works?” Like Rick did. He loves to surround himself with yes men and weak voice wankers like Quinn, Recchi, etc.

In the 2016 run their core was...
Crosby - 29
Malkin - 30
Letang - 29
Kessel - 28
Fleury - 30
Kunitz - 36

Then they had.......
Sheary - 24
Schultz - 26
Bonino - 29
Guentzel - 21
Hornqvist - 29
Rust - 24
Murray 22

And a bunch of other guys not in their late 30's playing significant minutes.

I'd like to know where this ageing core is he speaks of.

I'd also say that the most valuable coach in my opinion was actually Jacques Martin and how he set up and got guys to buy in to their defensive system. I've always viewed Sullivan as highly overrated hanging his hat on the two early cup wins and doing a not great job ever since.

 

[Jeune Poulet]

I have absolutely nothing against retread. Experience can be a good thing, if only you know how to use it.

I always find it odd that people hurry up to hire guys who were just fired, and that so many of those coaches immediately say "yes" before they can even reflect on what happened.

When you experience a setback after being on the job for so long, you should take some time off, figure out how and where things went wrong and present a better version of yourself.

 

[PeteWorrell]

I have absolutely nothing against retread. Experience can be a good thing, if only you know how to use it.

I always find it odd that people hurry up to hire guys who were just fired, and that so many of those coaches immediately say "yes" before they can even reflect on what happened.

When you experience a setback after being on the job for so long, you should take some time off, figure out how and where things went wrong and present a better version of yourself.

There are only 32 NHL head coaching jobs. They don't want to say no and risk missing out and be forgotten.

 

[Saga of the Elk]

Not sure one can post something more ignorant than this. Dolan doesn't meddle in the Rangers at all. All he does is "let the hockey professionals do their jobs."

Dolan is an asshole. But he's one of the most hands-off NHL owners in existence.

I've heard differently. But keep up the good work, "Hunter Gathers" random guy.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

I don’t understand why Sullivan’s great beginning to his career in Pittsburgh with a stacked roster somehow offsets the many more recent underwhelming years along with a totally unsuccessful earlier head coaching career. What exactly is his speciality as a coach? What are the NYR paying the big bucks for?

The Rangers seem to have an addiction to firing and then hiring the biggest name coach available as quickly as possible. I don’t understand with how often they do it and how little patience they have when it doesn’t work out that they keep going back to it.

Does the ghost of Tom Renney still haunt them?

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Sully came into a Pit club with an aging core and was able to squeeze enough juice out of them to win two Cups. He will squeeze whatever juice left in that Rangers’ core too. Imo there’s not enough there for a Cup but certainly he’s getting them into the top three of their division.

What?

The last time Pitt won a Cup, Pitt’s stars were basically in their prime. He “squeezed” two cups out of that roster?

That’s one hell of a narrative.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I don't know if Sullivan will do the trick or not, but all these posters looking for a coaching unicorn makes me life.

 

[Fatass]

What?

The last time Pitt won a Cup, Pitt’s stars were basically in their prime. He “squeezed” two cups out of that roster?

That’s one hell of a narrative.

Crosby, Malkin, Letang are HHOF greats. Crosby and Malkin especially are considered two of the best ever. These level guys can have prime years that extend into their mid thirties. They were 29/30 when Sully came in and coached them to two more Cups. So yes in their primes. But they hadn’t won a Cup for nearly a decade.
The Rangers core guys are not the level of Crosby and Malkin. Not many players are. But those Ranger guys aren’t well past their primes either. They are between 28 and 32. There’s absolutely more juice in those players. Sully will squeeze the juice just like he did for the Pens.
Rangers finish top three in their division. Imo 105 points is very achievable.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Crosby, Malkin, Letang are HHOF greats. Crosby and Malkin especially are considered two of the best ever. These level guys can have prime years that extend into their mid thirties. They were 29/30 when Sully came in and coached them to two more Cups. So yes in their primes. But they hadn’t won a Cup for nearly a decade.
The Rangers core guys are not the level of Crosby and Malkin. Not many players are. But those Ranger guys aren’t well past their primes either. They are between 28 and 32. There’s absolutely more juice in those players. Sully will squeeze the juice just like he did for the Pens.
Rangers finish top three in their division. Imo 105 points is very achievable.

I just don’t get your thought process. It seems like a huge stretch.

Saying that Sullivan “squeezed” more out of a roster containing two future HHOF’s in their prime plus a good supporting cast just doesn’t ring true to me.

Dan Bylsma guided the Pens to a Cup in 2009 after Michel Therrien got fired. Is Bylsma also an amazing coach?

I guess I just can’t figure out what exactly Sullivan is known for in terms of coaching or system? What exactly is he doing scheme wise to “squeeze” more out of his roster? Like you’re saying it, but what is his coaching philosophy and what is he doing specifically that benefits his players and their place on the ice?

 

[Fatass]

I just don’t get your thought process. It seems like a huge stretch.

Saying that Sullivan “squeezed” more out of a roster containing two future HHOF’s in their prime plus a good supporting cast just doesn’t ring true to me.

Dan Bylsma guided the Pens to a Cup in 2009 after Michel Therrien got fired. Is Bylsma also an amazing coach?

I guess I just can’t figure out what exactly Sullivan is known for in terms of coaching or system? What exactly is he doing scheme wise to “squeeze” more out of his roster? Like you’re saying it, but what is his coaching philosophy and what is he doing specifically that benefits his players and their place on the ice?

Sully came in and coached a Pens core that hadn’t won for a decade to back to back Cups. Of course he squeezed more juice from them. Two Cups after a decade since their last one is a testament to that. The Rangers core is only one year removed from winning the Presidents trophy. There’s clearly juice left.

 

[CharasLazyWrister]

Sully came in and coached a Pens core that hadn’t won for a decade to back to back Cups. Of course he squeezed more juice from them. Two Cups after a decade since their last one is a testament to that. The Rangers core is only one year removed from winning the Presidents trophy. There’s clearly juice left.

Hey good on you for the confidence. We will see how it plays out.