Mike Sullivan Sends Hidden Message In Introductory Press Conference With Rangers

Mike Sullivan’s introductory press conference on Thursday was filled with the usual cliches, but had a few strong hidden messages conveyed by the New York Rangers’ newest coach.

As he was introduced as the Rangers’ 38th head coach, Sullivan spoke humbly, yet made his message loud and clear. 

The Rangers have had all the talent in the world, but haven’t been able to put all the pieces together, largely due to a lack of identity and problems with the overall culture. 

Sullivan knows that the skill is there, but it’s working as a cohesive unit that needs to be worked upon. 

“As we all know, talent alone doesn’t win championships,” Sullivan said. “Teams win championships. I think that’s going to be our challenge from Day 1, is to become a team in the true sense of the word.”

The 57-year-old won two Stanley Cups as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, so when he talks, everybody should listen and take notes. 

While Sullivan can’t specifically pinpoint what went wrong for the Rangers last season, he sees the potential in this team, a big reason why he took the job in the first place. 

“It’s hard for me to comment on what’s evolved here in the past,” said Sullivan. “It would probably be irresponsible for me because I wasn’t here…

“All I can speak to is that we can build here moving forward. My intention is to bring the experiences that I’ve learned through my time coaching in the NHL, some of the insight I’ve gained over the years, to this experience.”

Sullivan and Drury also seem to be in lockstep with each other. They have connections through Boston University and their time with USA Hockey. 

It’s unclear if Sullivan will be involved in some of the management decisions this summer regarding trades and free agency. 

What's clear though is that Sullivan and Drury are hoping to create a partnership that will last for years to come.  

“One of the things we've talked about is the importance of the relationship between he and I,” Sullivan said about his relationship with Drury. “My experience has told me that the relationship between the head coach and general manager is really important.”

It’s all words for now as we’ll see if Sullivan can put some of his talk into action and help turn around the Rangers.