"When the New York Rangers hired Mike Sullivan to replace Peter Laviolette, many were thrilled. Sullivan, a former back-to-back Stanley Cup winning coach, felt like a huge upgrade from Laviolette, and a potential overseer of a comeback season. Sullivan was the right coach to bring the Rangers back from their blip of a season and get the most out of this veteran core."
"Instead, Sullivan has seen the Rangers worst season in decades. Rather than coming back, the Rangers proved last season was no fluke, falling all the way to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. The only plus this season has been that the Rangers might finish far enough down the standings that they will have a shot at a much-needed top-five draft pick."
"Even worse, Sullivan's former employer, the Pittsburgh Penguins, hired Rangers Assistant Coach Dan Muse away, and have since become much improved. All of this leads me to wonder if the Rangers made the wrong decision. It would of course be the wrong decision in hindsight, as essentially no one complained when the Rangers hired Sullivan, but it's a fair thing to worry about."
Mike Sullivan was hired to replace Peter Laviolette and was expected to upgrade the team and revive a veteran core after a blip. Instead the Rangers endured their worst season in decades, falling to the bottom of the Eastern Conference and potentially securing a top-five draft pick. Many players underperformed and last season's issues worsened. The Pittsburgh Penguins hired assistant Dan Muse and improved, raising questions about the hiring decision. The Penguins had been hesitant to retain Sullivan for their own rebuild. Early results show Sullivan prioritizing veterans over young players, hindering development and failing to sustain momentum for prospects like Alexis Lafreniere.
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