I said right after Lav got fired, if the Pens were stupid enough to fire Sullivan, he'd be the Rangers new coach for sure, well here we are. I think it's pretty much a lock he's the guy, unless he doesn't want to come here. Drury and Sullivan are close friends AND he was also an assistant here under Torts. The one potential issue is Boston. He's from Boston and has ties to the team. He's a perfect fit, he's like Torts, tough and holds players accountable, but he doesn't have the Torts baggage or bad attitude. It will be between us and the Bruins, and I hope he picks us, he's a top coach no doubt.
I cannot see Tampa firing Cooper. That series is an unfortunate byproduct of the ridiculous NHL playoff format. Those are the two best teams in the East, and one is going to lose in the 1st round, most likely Tampa at this point. Will Sullivan go home again back to Boston, where he used to be their head coach as well, and his son-in-law McAvoy plays OR will he go partner up with his friend Drury, where he used to be an assistant coach. That is big question, I really hope Drury can pull this off and get Sullivan to NY.
Both Sullivan and Cooper had all time great HOF players on their rosters..what makes them any better then the prior two coaches?
What makes any coach better than prior coaches? Nothing is ever guaranteed, but what I can say is both have won multiple Cups, and both have led their countries in international tournaments. I think Sullivan's resume suggests he's a top-level coach (I don't think Cooper is going to be available), but there is always some uncertainty of course.
I heard a stat on that dope Biznasty’a podcast and a surprisingly a very low number of coaches have won cups with more than 1 team
There have been three head coaches in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup with more than one team, with only Scotty Bowman able to pull off the feat over the past eight decades.
Sullivan is no doubt a great coach and 2 cups speaks for itself, but we should not act like this is a no-brainer. Three straight years out of the playoffs in a sport where half the teams make it. Zero playoff series wins since 2017-2018, when they won a single round. And that's all while having one of the best players of all time in his prime putting up 90 pt seasons like clockwork. Last year they gave up even more high danger chances than the Rangers which seems impossible. If our coach had that resume we'd be burning the place down to get him out. Sure the roster has been a wreck and they have been in goalie hell for a decade, but that is a startling lack of recent success. Drury has been lusting over Sullivan since the day he was hired so he is no doubt the favorite but I hope we take our time here. Muse in particular deserves a long look. Ideally we can find the next Cooper/Sullivan that is ready for today's game.
I think the key for Drury is hiring a coach who shares his philosophy of grittier play, clearly Lav was not on board. Don LaGrecca was on ESPN radio this am and he agrees with Dump and I on hiring a Tortorella type coach to drive out the rotten core. Sullivan coached under Torts, don't know if John would be interested in reciprocating. The fact that guys are coming out in the press hurt about not being kept up to speed by Drury on roster moves speaks volumes, seems like advancing a few rounds in the playoffs was sufficient to many on the team. When even Herb Brooks, who has been around forever, calls them them out as the biggest whiners he's ever covered that's saying something. Four years later and I still think the priority to overhauling the Rangers is trading Fox especially with his NTC locking in soon. There will be a high seeded team that gets eliminated early short on defensive scoring that Drury should target while emotions run high. Next would be that bust lumpy Laf, now even too lazy to remove his helmet for the anthem but he'll take those American dollars, trade him to a Canadian team where he wants to be.
We want a coach that can develop young players in today’s game, especially offensively. Who better than the guy who led the US juniors team and the Natl Team Development program? Players he coached that are now pros seem to go out of their way to shout out his role in their development. Beat reporters have said several times he is a leader at practices and one of the hardest workers in the building. Brian Boyle on the Blueshirts podcast just singled him out as well as a motivator and a guy players respect. The front office must see something in him as well as him and Peca were both offered return interviews. Too often this team goes for the big name instead of a guy who could become the next big name (e.g. Knoblauch and Carbury last cycle). I am not saying Muse or bust but I hope Drury and co. take a look here before putting on Sully blinders. Also check out this piece from June 2023 when he joined our staff: Rangers assistant coach Dan Muse guided some of NHL draft’s top prospects —’He showed me what real hockey is’ - The Athletic ' “He showed me what real hockey is, honestly,” said Ryan Leonard, a center who could go anywhere from No. 6-10 on Wednesday. “What it takes to become a professional athlete, how to make a living at it. He was awesome. I can’t say enough good things about him.” '
Maybe Muse can be hired as the coach of Hartford. Their coach fucking sucks. He can develop the kids there so they don’t look like crap when they get called up.
I disagree; I think this is a no brainer. If Sullivan will come here over Boston, Drury should hire him without a shadow of a doubt. I also think he should still do some interviews and get some good insight, some perspective, and have some good hockey discussions. I am all for that, and think it's the right move. Interview Muse as well, and if he does well, maybe he can be on Sullivan's staff or as was mentioned, coach Hartford. When the dust settles though, I think hiring Sullivan should be a very simple choice, and he is the big favorite to get the job from what I have read, again assuming he would come here over Boston, going home, and coaching his son-in-law. Sullivan also has the exact philosophy we need; he is a no nonsense, gritty, hold players accountable coach. As for the Pens the past few seasons, that team is an old pile of crap, with below average goaltending. It's a miracle they were able to stay somewhat competitive. They barely missed the playoffs last season, and if they got in over the Caps, that would have been a very different 1st round for us, certainly no sweep. The Pens are an example of a team foolishly clinging to nothing, making terrible trades for guys like Karlsson. I think Sullivan has done a great job there considering what that old team is now. But hey, at least they have our 1st round pick next year.
Tocchet decided not to take the Canucks offer, so he's available now as well. You have to figure the smart money is on Sullivan or Tocchet, if Sullivan goes to Boston. It would be sort of surprising if the new coach isn't one of these two guys. Sounds like they may have a coach by the end of the week, wanting to stay ahead of the teams that get knocked out in the 1st round. I will say this, it would be nice if the Rangers could hire and develop a good young coach, a Cooper or Carbery as stated above. But I just don't see it happening, especially with Sullivan available now. He was the guy Drury wanted in 21 and 23, but he stayed with the Pens. Now he's available, and I'd be shocked if Drury doesn't pounce. Right or wrong, I don't see Drury hiring a new young unproven coach, with a hire he must get right or else he'll be fired you'd think. You never know with Dolan, but I doubt he gets to hire a 4th coach. Even if Sullivan wasn't available, I do not see Drury hiring some new guy for this team with the pressure he has to win.
