The New York Rangers made history this week, not just by naming two-time Stanley Cup champion Mike Sullivan their next head coach, but by giving him the richest coaching contract in NHL history.
According to The Athletic’s Arthur Staple, quoting two league sources, Sullivan has signed a five-year deal worth $6.5 million annually, surpassing the previous record set by Mike Babcock’s $6.25 million salary with the Maple Leafs.
"Two league sources said that Sullivan signed a five-year deal worth $6.5 million per season, making him by far the highest-paid coach in the league," Staple reported.
Rangers general manager Chris Drury made clear on Sullivan's introductory press conference on Thursday that there was no coaching search once Sullivan became available.
"The second Mike was available, we quickly and aggressively pursued him,'' Drury said. "We are certainly thrilled that pursuit led us to this moment today. There's a lot of work to be done."
Sullivan, 57, was fired by the Pittsburgh Penguins six days before his hire in New York. He returns to the Rangers, where he served as an assistant from 2009 to 2013 and first worked alongside Drury.
Drury and Sullivan are also part of USA Hockey’s staff for the 4 Nations Face-Off and the one leading the nation into the 2026 Olympics.
New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan is introduced during a press conference at the MSG Training Center.
© Peter Carr/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“I have spoken to every player on the roster over the last three days,” Sullivan said on Thursday. “I think there is a fair amount of leadership in that room. There’s a lot of character in that room.”
The Rangers are coming off a disastrous 39-36-7 season in which they failed to make the postseason after winning the Presidents' Trophy last year.
