The winds of change are sweeping through the New York Rangers organization, bringing both uncertainty and renewed hope to a team desperate to reclaim its former glory. After a disappointing season that saw the Rangers miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs just a year removed from their President’s Trophy triumph, the front office made a bold move by appointing veteran coach Mike Sullivan as the new leader behind the bench.

This decision, coming on the heels of Peter Laviolette’s departure, has sent shockwaves through the fan base and media alike. Amidst the transition, star forward Mika Zibanejad has emerged as a vocal supporter of Sullivan’s hiring, expressing optimism about what the accomplished coach can bring to the team. As the Rangers regroup and set their sights on a turnaround, all eyes are on how this new partnership between Zibanejad and Sullivan will shape the franchise’s future.

Rangers coach Mike Sullivan

Photo credit: The New York Times

New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad is making some bold comments on the team’s most important hire in recent memory, new coach Mike Sullivan.

The New York Rangers failed to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs only a year after winning the President’s Trophy and advancing to the Eastern Conference Final.

Rangers general manager Chris Drury, who is facing increased scrutiny from fans and media, made a significant change in leadership behind the team bench by terminating Peter Laviolette.

In Laviolette’s place, Drury hired former Stanley Cup winning head coach Mike Sullivan, who had just been let go by the Pittsburgh Penguins after nearly 10 full years on the job.

Despite leading the Penguins to consecutive Staley Cups earlier in his career, Sullivan and the Penguins have missed the postseason the last 3 years running, leading to the change being made by Pittsburgh GM Kyle Dubas.

Sullivan’s hire has the full endorsement of Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad, who is playing for Sweden in the 2025 IIHF World Championship.

Obviously excited with a coach like that. He’s had a lot of success. I had a quick phone call with him and I’m sure we’ll have more calls and more conversations during the summer, obviously getting to know him.

Zibanejad knows that he and his teammates fell well short of expectations this year, and hopes that Sullivan can help them return to the postseason next spring.

At the end of the day, we don’t get up to the level of play that we should with this team, and then there’s obviously a bit of a turnover midseason as well, a lot moving parts and moving pieces.

Zibanejad underwhelmed with 62 points (20G, 42A) in 82 games, only 2 years removed from a 91 point performance in 2022-23.