After parting ways with Pittsburgh following a decade-long stint, Top veteran was officially hired by the New York Rangers —and made headlines by becoming the highest-paid head coach in NHL history.
Though it had been anticipated for several days, the financial details were confirmed: he earn about $6.5 million annually, topping the previous high of $6.25 million set by former Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock.
This new contract sets a league-wide precedent for coaching salaries, but he is no stranger to being atop the pay scale. He already held the title of highest-paid coach last season, earning $5.5 million per year with the Penguins.
To put his salary in context, Sullivan’s yearly earnings now rival those of top NHL players like Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn and Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, the latter a Stanley Cup winner in 2024.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion himself, Sullivan stressed the importance of cultivating team identity in his introductory press conference, following a disappointing season that saw the Rangers miss the playoffs.
“There’s no shortage of talent in this room, but talent by itself doesn’t bring championships,” Sullivan said. “Championships are won by teams. Our mission from Day 1 is to become a real team.”
The Rangers moved swiftly after Sullivan was let go by the Penguins on April 28, hiring him just six days later—a move made easier by his longstanding relationship with Rangers GM Chris Drury.
“As soon as Mike became available, we went after him quickly and assertively,” Drury said. “We’re excited it brought us to today, and we know there’s a lot of hard work ahead.”