Can Mike Sullivan Do For The Rangers What Craig Berube Did For The Maple Leafs?

Could Mike Sullivan do for the Rangers what Craig Berube is doing for the Maple Leafs? It's possible. 

Berube was fired by the St.Louis Blues and currently has the Toronto Maple Leafs looking like a Stanley Cup contender.

Sullivan was fired by the Pittsburgh Penguins and could – I said COULD – be the answer to every Rangers fans' prayers.

And no, this is not one of The Maven's bad jokes. I have interviewed some folks who know Sullivan very well and they paint a more hopeful picture than I have imagined.

Veteran hockey coach and former Providence College hockey star Chris Riley waxes enthusiastic about the Sullivan hire.

"Mike is amazing with his coaching philosophy," says Riley, "and I can see him as the breath of fresh air that the Rangers desperately need. It will be a tough road for Sully in the beginning. In a sense it's up to the players.

"They have to buy in and understand that he knows how to team-build and Drury has to let Sully coach."

The Maven has pointed out Sullivan's non-playoff record in his last year has raised eyebrows among some skeptics but Chris Riley says not to worry.

"The problem with the Penguins was that ownership brought in a new GM (Kyle Dubas) and he got in the way – and wanted to give his take. Another problem was that they changed to a corporate set up with the hockey team and that didn't work.

"When Mario Lemieux was running the show in Pittsburgh he gave Sully free rein over the team and all was well. The situation with the Rangers and Sully will be much better. I just hope that Drury lets Mike coach and doesn't get in the way."

Both Sidney Crosby and Gino Malkin were mostly free from coaching criticism and that made it difficult for Sully. So did defenseman Erik Karlsson who should have been benched when he played badly. But as one Pittsburgh reporter put it, "No coach is going to bench a Norris Trophy-winner."

The Rangers rebuild – or whatever they want to call it – is a complex one and involves a high-priced core with talent.

"The Rangers were only one season removed from winning the Presidents' Trophy," says another critic, "and many of the players who contributed to that season are still on the roster.

"Sully will get to the root of what was – or is, if the problem still exists – causing the locker room discord. He might not guide the Rangers to The Stanley Cup but it's a safe bet that he'll have them back in the playoffs."

Then, a pause: "It was the right time for the Penguins and Sullivan to part ways – and the right time for the Rangers to hire him!"

Amen!