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Shocking Contract Details Between Mike Sullivan and the Rangers Leak: He Will Make NHL History

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated May 5, 2025 6:49 PM ET

The New York Rangers have officially made Mike Sullivan their latest Head Coach, and now it's been revealed just how rich this new deal is for Sullivan.

Just a short time after moving on from Peter Laviolette as their Head Coach, the New York Rangers were quick to bring in Mike Sullivan, who had just been let go by the Pittsburgh Penguins after a disappointing campaign of their own.

Despite missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for three straight seasons in Pittsburgh, Sullivan remains one of the best Head Coaches in the NHL, with interest in Sullivan reportedly spread to every coaching role around the league.

However, after wanting to grab him back in 2021 before he remained with Pittsburgh, Chris Drury was not going to be outbid for Sullivan this time, and now, it's revealed just what lengths he went too to make that happen.

According to Elliotte Friedman, the deal for Sullivan is over five years, and it also carries the highest annual salary in NHL history for a Head Coach, which was well earned over his decade long run as the bench boss of the Penguins.

The previous high in the NHL for annual salary was Sullivan with $5.5 million per year, followed by Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper at $5.3 million a season, but now, Sullivan has topped that with an annual value of $6.25M.

Whether or not the Rangers will get their moneys worth on this deal, only time will tell, but over the past decade, Sullivan has shown his skills as one of the best coaches in the NHL, and with a talented roster to inherit, we will now see if he can replicate that success with another franchise.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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