PITTSBURGH — It’s quite ironic to see how the Rangers and Penguins find themselves after both changed coaches this summer.
Dan Muse, who was Peter Laviolette’s assistant for two seasons in New York, is now leading the Penguins in hopes of revitalizing a seasoned team. Meanwhile, general manager Kyle Dubas is reshaping the roster for a future without the iconic trio of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang.
Muse’s Penguins head into Saturday’s game against the Rangers sitting second in the Metropolitan Division, and the end of their three-season playoff drought seems quite possible.
What a way to kick off a coaching career in the NHL.
On the flip side, Mike Sullivan, who won two Stanley Cups during his decade with the Penguins, has moved to New York, aiming to restore the Rangers to championship glory.
Reportedly, disagreements about timing for success sparked Sullivan’s departure from Pittsburgh. So, joining a potentially competitive Rangers squad might seem like a positive opportunity.
However, on the very day the Penguins celebrated the tenth anniversary of their 2016 Cup win, Sullivan found himself at PPG Paints Arena with the Rangers—the same team that was languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the Rangers even decided to restructure and did not extend a contract for star winger Artemi Panarin.
While Sullivan’s start in New York hasn’t gone according to plan, it’s not surprising to see the progress made by his former team.
“It doesn’t surprise me because the core players here have a unique quality,” Sullivan said before the Rangers lost 6-5 to the Penguins. “Even as they age, their performance remains at an elite level. It’s all driven by Sid. Does it surprise me? Not at all. They’ve really come together as a team, and the new young talent they’ve added looks good.”
Sullivan acknowledged that the current state of the Rangers is quite different from what it was just four months ago.
It might take time for the Rangers to achieve consistent success, yet that’s not really what Sullivan was aiming for.
He’s made it clear that coaching to win is still his priority.
Sullivan is not just about developing players; he’s a coach who emphasizes performance.
In the long run, perhaps having the time to shape the younger players in his system while building relationships could be beneficial for him.
Given this transition, there are certainly some questions about whether Sullivan is the right fit going forward.
Nevertheless, he’s the coach that both the president and GM Chris Drury wanted in charge.
One of the major critiques during Sullivan’s time in Pittsburgh was his handling of younger players.
But the situation is different now—there’s a mix of rookies in the Rangers’ lineup, some of whom Sullivan has come to trust more and more.
His previous relationships with players from Wilkes-Barre, who moved up to the Penguins in 2016, likely contributed to their success in winning the Cup.
“We’re definitely going to look at different lineups and shift players around,” Sullivan remarked. “We’ve already started doing that and will keep it going, based on what we think will put guys in positions to succeed and play to their strengths. That’s the plan. For instance, Gabe Perreault is a great example of this kind of opportunity.”
“We want to keep understanding this group better and better. Ongoing evaluation and growth together is essential,” he continued.
Sullivan concluded with a commitment to tackle these challenges so the organization can move forward.
