After officially hiring Mike Sullivan on May 2—just days after his decade-long run with the Pittsburgh Penguins ended—the New York Rangers have made a major splash by naming him the highest-paid head coach in NHL history.
Although reports had long suggested Sullivan would top the league’s salary charts, details of his contract were confirmed Friday: he’ll earn around \$6.5 million per year, edging out the previous record of \$6.25 million held by former Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock.
This deal raises the bar for NHL coaching salaries, but Sullivan is no stranger to such distinction—his \$5.5 million salary with Pittsburgh already made him the league’s highest-paid coach last season.
To put his new paycheck in context, Sullivan’s earnings are now on par with some of the NHL’s top players, including Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn and Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, the latter of whom helped his team win the 2024 Stanley Cup.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion himself, Sullivan stressed the importance of fostering team cohesion during his introductory press conference, citing the Rangers’ failure to make the playoffs as a sign that changes are needed.
“There’s a lot of skill in this locker room,” Sullivan told reporters. “But skill doesn’t win championships—teams do. That’s our mission from day one: to become a true team.”
Sullivan’s hiring came swiftly, just six days after he was let go by the Penguins on April 28. The rapid move was likely influenced by his longstanding relationship with Rangers GM Chris Drury.
“As soon as Mike became available, we aggressively pursued him,” Drury said. “We’re thrilled to have him here, but we know there’s a lot of work ahead.”
Drury and Sullivan’s bond dates back to their time as teammates on Team USA at the 1997 IIHF World Championship. More recently, they collaborated during the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, where Sullivan coached and Drury served as assistant GM.
While Sullivan’s arrival brings renewed optimism after a tough season, he’ll be the team’s third head coach in five years—a sign the front office isn’t afraid to shake things up.
Sullivan’s first major task looms on the horizon: helping shape the team’s future when the Rangers select 12th overall in the upcoming NHL Draft on June 27 in Los Angeles.