When the New York Rangers hired Mike Sullivan as their next head coach, replacing Peter Laviolette, it seemed like the right hire at the time. However, the first season on the big lights of Broadway, things didn't go as planned.
It was a disaster of a season for the Rangers, who went 34-39-9 and finished with the worst record in not only in the Metropolitan Division, but in the Eastern Conference. In fact, things were so bad that in the middle of January, general manager Chris Drury penned a letter to fans announcing a "retool'' approach the organization was going to take.
A "retool'' is a term that has been used by some organizations, and the most recent success of one was the Boston Bruins and general manager Don Sweeney. Drury kept his job, and Sullivan was brought back for a second season, and despite some devastating early injuries, the former Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins head coach is finally understanding what it is like to coach in New York and the pressure that comes with it, while having success.
Rangers coach Mike Sullivan is having success under the pressure and bright New York lights
Sullivan and the Rangers recovered from a season-opening loss to Boston to vault quickly to the top of the Metropolitan Division standings. However, not long after the puck was dropped on the 2026-27 season, New York was hit with a brutal injury to goalie Igor Shesterkin, who was lost for the season against the Washington Capitals earlier this month.
However, Sullivan got some criticism for some things early in the season, but the goalie situation was something out of his control. What Sullivan and his staff have done is that they have a system in place where they play an aggressive style with a structure that relies on tight play in the defensive end.
Offensively, some moves this offseason are paying off for Drury in terms of supplying more scoring, but it all comes down to Sullivan and his ability to make the pieces added click with the rest of the roster. Right now, the Rangers are one point, at the time this article is being written, on the outside looking in for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
Make no mistake about it, the Eastern Conference is much tougher this season than it was last season, with moves made by some teams this offseason. However, the Rangers are in a good position to be part of the fight for a postseason berth in the spring, and that's because Sullivan is taking what he learned from his rough first season in New York and not letting the outside noise affect him. That's his big path to success with the Rangers.
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