How Rangers’ Mike Sullivan is approaching first return to Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — At a time when NHL coaches are discarded and recycled at an alarming rate, Mike Sullivan established himself in Pittsburgh. 

The city welcomes him back at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday night, when Sullivan returns for the first time as head coach of the Rangers to take on the team he led for the previous 10 years, the Penguins. 

It is sure to be a meaningful night for all involved.

What Sullivan was able to accomplish with the Penguins — building a culture and fostering relationships that induced his longevity — is exactly what the Rangers had in mind when the organization hired the veteran coach four days after he became available. 

“Obviously, you know, it’s different,” Sullivan said after coaching against the Penguins for the first time in the Rangers’ season opener earlier this week. “It’s different. I knew that was going to be the case. But I’m excited about the group we have here in front of me with the Rangers. I’m looking forward to working with this group.” 

Sullivan wrapped up his Penguins tenure as the winningest head coach in franchise history (409), the all-time leader in games coached (753) and playoff games coached (82). 

Sullivan became the first coach to lead the Penguins to consecutive Stanley Cups, doing so in his first two seasons at the helm.

He was also the third bench boss in franchise history, as well as just the sixth in the NHL, to win the Cup following a mid-season coaching change, joining Scotty Bowman (1992) and Dan Bylsma (2009). 

To this day, Sullivan is still the only American-born head coach to win the Stanley Cup multiple times. 

“You always have to look at the history of any place you’ve gone into,” said new Penguins coach Dan Muse, who coincidentally worked as an assistant coach under ex-Rangers coach Peter Laviolette the previous two seasons. “Obviously, Mike Sullivan was here for 10 years, two Stanley Cups, ton of success. The way I approached the job was, you know, we put together a coaching staff and we’re going to have a plan. We’re going to make it as well-thought-out as we possibly can.” 

The Penguins are off to a 2-0 start after shutting out the Rangers at Madison Square Garden to start the season Tuesday, which spoiled Sullivan’s debut behind the Blueshirts bench. 

After such a performance, the Rangers look to make it up to their new head coach. 

Pittsburgh knocked off the Islanders at home Thursday night, 4-3. 

Sullivan will field several questions about his return Saturday morning, presumably before the 57-year-old is honored with a video tribute mid-game that night.

He’ll probably reiterate similar sentiments as he did before the season opener, like maintaining his focus on the Rangers. 

Ten years, however, is a long time for anyone — let alone an NHL coach in this day and age. 

It’ll be a meaningful night for all involved, but a Rangers win would mean the most to Sullivan. 

“He’s a very demanding coach,” said Conor Sheary, who was on both of the Penguins’ Cup-winning teams under Sullivan. “I think he has the ability to captivate a whole room when he speaks. He makes guys listen. When he coaches, you want to make sure you’re doing the right thing because you’re going to hear it if not. I think that really brings a team together and makes sure everyone is pulling in the same direction, trying to do the same thing. 

“I think he does a really good job with his systems, it’s obviously worked in the past. It’s worked throughout his whole career. I think if he can implement that quickly, this can be a really good team.”