Mike Sullivan mutually parting ways with the Pittsburgh Penguins makes him top coaching candidate for NY Rangers

The New York Rangers are currently without a head coach, and that vacancy could be filled pretty soon now that Mike Sullivan is a free agent. Today Sullivan and the Pittsburgh Penguins mutually parted ways, and it is hard not to connect the dots given the current opening in New York, and his history with the franchise.

Sullivan served as an assistant coach to John Tortorella from 2009-10 through the 2012-13 season with the Rangers, and followed him to the Vancouver Canucks the following season. For the last 10 season he was the head coach of the Penguins, and during that time guided them to two Stanley Cups.

Sullivan also most recently served as the head coach of Team USA at 4 Nations Faceoff, a tournament in which Rangers President and GM Chris Drury was part of the brain trust as an assistant general manager.

There's no guarantee that Sullivan joins the Rangers, but it certainly seems like the job is his if he truly wants it. If Sullivan were to take the job, the next question to consider would be who is coming with him?

Could his lead assistant, and former Rangers head coach, David Quinn come along for the ride? Or maybe John Tortorella in some capacity? The trio coincidentally worked together at 4 Nations. We will see, but the sudden availability of Sullivan certainly is great news for the Blueshirts, and makes this early offseason a little more exciting.