How long will Mike Sullivan remain unemployed after parting ways with the Penguins on Monday?
Apparently less than a week.
According to multiple reports, Sullivan is close to becoming head coach of the New York Rangers.
ESPN, which first reported the news Thursday evening, said Sullivan’s deal will be among the richest contracts ever given to an NHL coach. NHL coaching salaries are not generally made public, but Sullivan and Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper were believed to be the league’s best-paid bench bosses this season, making more than $5 million annually.
It will not be Sullivan’s first stint with the Rangers. He was an assistant on head coach John Tortorella’s staff from 2009-13.
In a bit of a twist, Tortorella, who was fired by the Philadelphia Flyers in March, could join Sullivan’s staff, the ESPN report said.
ESPN also reported that David Quinn will not join Sullivan in New York and is a candidate for other head coaching vacancies, including Pittsburgh’s. Quinn remains under contract with the Penguins as an assistant coach.
Sullivan is the winningest head coach in Penguins history with 409 victories in 10 seasons. He is one of 19 coaches in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup more than once.
