Coach Relations: Sullivan and Tortorella’s Long History

The connection between Rangers’ head coach Mike Sullivan and former head coach John Tortorella is quite extensive.

Since 2007, they have shared the coaching staff on six different occasions. Sullivan has worked as Tortorella’s assistant for six seasons across Tampa Bay, New York, and Vancouver and was part of the coaching team for Team USA during the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

More recently, their roles have flipped, with Tortorella supporting Sullivan as an assistant for Team USA at the 4 Nations and the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics.

When asked about Tortorella’s unexpected hiring in Las Vegas—especially with only a few games left in the 2025-26 season and playoffs on the line—Sullivan had only good things to say about the 67-year-old coach.

“I believe he’s a fantastic coach,” Sullivan commented Tuesday before the Rangers’ game against the Devils at Madison Square Garden. “One of his strengths is managing crises; he brings a ton of energy. I’m confident he’ll inject that into Las Vegas. Tortz has always impressed me, and I’ve had a long, rewarding relationship with him. I’ve worked alongside him for nearly ten years. He was part of the Olympic team coaching staff, which was a valuable experience for me.” Sullivan paused for a moment, reflecting before he continued. “We have different approaches, yet both emphasize what it takes to create a winning environment.”

Sullivan elaborated on Tortorella’s ability to adapt, stating, “He’s managed to keep up with how the game is shifting. The way the game is played now can be quite different from what it was when we were coaching the Rangers together back in 2010. Tortorella is a dedicated student of the game, continually evolving with modern strategies. We often discuss this within our coaching staff, focusing on how we can respond to these changes, utilizing technology and film analysis.”

“When you truly love coaching, you dive deep into learning. And Tortorella has exemplified this throughout his career; his commitment is commendable. That’s something that really stands out to me when watching him. I think he will rise to the occasion and do a terrific job,” he added.

Both Sullivan and Tortorella found success together recently, winning gold with USA Hockey in the NHL’s exciting Olympic return. They shared four seasons together in the New York Rangers organization from 2009 to 2013.

On a different note, Urho Vaakanainen participated in Tuesday’s morning skate but wore a red non-contact jersey, continuing to sit out for the seventh consecutive game due to an upper-body injury.

This past weekend’s victories against Chicago and Florida marked the Rangers’ first consecutive home wins of the season. Tuesday’s game against New Jersey also signified the third in a stretch of seven home games, the highest count this season.