How Mike Sullivan Can Be Like Cup Coach Paul Maurice

Mike Sullivan is a gamble as new Rangers coach because he's a retread whose last stint in Pittsburgh was as stale as last century's eggs.

But let's not put an egg on Sully's face just yet because history shows that he very easily could be a winner on Seventh Avenue.

To make a judgement on an NHL coach, first you have to do two things: A. Check on the record of the GM making the hire. B. Compare the new guy to the one he replaced and to the best one in the business.

Chris Drury is the GM and he struck out on three straight pitches – David (Call Me Kid) Quinn, Gerard (I Am) Gallant and the almost popular Peter Laviolette.

"After those misses, Drury still got a Dolan reprieve," says The Old Scout, "that's for sure."

How the GM feels about his choice, Sullivan, will only be known next spring; unless, of course, the whole season blows up in his face, as it did for the woebegone Lavvy.

As for Sullivan, he's an automatic improvement over Lavvy because he's "A new voice." Sometimes it matters; other times it doesn't.

But when it comes to coaching voices, none beat the mentor of champions. Paul Maurice blends a tough voice with an unmatched comic side.

"We want to play for this guy," is the refrain heard over and over in the Florida room and – if you'll excuse the expression – Paul is the cat's meow!

But wait: let's check our history. It wasn't that long ago when Maurice was so fit to be tied in Winnipeg that he voluntarily begged off his job on the grounds that he no longer could do the job he was begging off. 

"Now is the hour," Paul said while GM Kevin Chevildayoff replied, "Thank you very much."

When you think about it, it's hard to believe what you're thinking about. Out of the depths of Maurice's Winnipeg depression, Paul now reigns as toast of the hockey world.

His Panthers turn foes – even Duke McDavid of Edmonton – into toast. Already books in Vegas have the Cats favored to win the 2026 Stanley.

So, what's The Maven's point? Simply this:  If a formerly retread coach such as Paul Maurice could spin hockey straw into Cup gold, why not Seventh Avenue Sullivan?

There's only one way for me to find out; I'll have to start off by telling Sully a joke!

After all, we don't want the next season to be a joke on him!