Time functions in an odd way when it comes to sports, as the focus is so intensely on the present that it becomes difficult to truly comprehend what has occurred without stepping back. That notion certainly applies to the New York Rangers and the current Rangers coaching carousel over the last few seasons.
It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come from the days when Brian Trottier or Ron Low patrolled the bench with little to no authority during the bleak early 2000s, a period that, along with a league-altering lockout, pushed the organization into rethinking its entire coaching approach and how they selected the next man behind the bench.
That shift eventually brought Tom Renney into the head coaching role, handed off by Glen Sather, as the Rangers began their climb toward consistent playoff contention. However, after a few seasons, Renney’s philosophy started to fade in effectiveness, leading to his dismissal in 2009 and the arrival of John Tortorella, whose tenure marked a new identity for one of the most hard-nosed Rangers squads ever. This is where we begin our Rangers coaching carousel.
Tortorella’s intense style and gritty system brought a defensive-minded discipline that lingered with the team even after his exit. But, as is often the case, a coach’s voice eventually grows stale, and Tortorella’s fire was traded for Alain Vigneault’s more relaxed demeanor. At this point, you may see where this is headed—and I could be slightly off—but it really does feel like the Rangers are stuck in a perpetual coaching carousel.
From Vigneault to David Quinn, to Gerard Gallant and Peter Laviolette, each coach brought different temperaments and varying levels of short-term or modest long-term success, with four trips to the Conference Finals among them. Their styles were all over the spectrum—Quinn and Laviolette were no-nonsense, hard-edged types, while Vigneault and Gallant were more hands-off, with both approaches delivering mixed outcomes.
Now, however, it feels like we’re circling back. Mike Sullivan, the newest man behind the bench, represents something of a reset. He isn’t a carbon copy of Tortorella, but having served under him, there are clear philosophical similarities. Both men have had success at the NHL and international levels, and it’s hard to shake the feeling that the Rangers are returning to a familiar path.
While Laviolette wasn’t as mellow as Tom Renney, there was a noticeable disconnect between him and the players, reminiscent of past struggles. Numbers dipped, and the locker room atmosphere fostered a losing mentality. Whether the roster featured Nikolai Zherdev, Scott Gomez, Petr Prucha, or now Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Vincent Trocheck, a change in direction has often been needed, then and now.
Some may argue that the roster Tortorella inherited lacked the talent Mike Sullivan now has at his disposal, and Torts’ real progress came after the team cut ties with some of the underperformers. Similarly, Sullivan steps into a situation where he’ll need to make his mark, though he’ll do so from the offseason rather than in the middle of one.
Ideally, this marks the end of the Rangers coaching carousel, because it’s exhausting watching a roster full of skill continue to fall short. Chris Drury finally secured his guy and, as I’ve said before, the Rangers’ coaching cycle seems to have come full circle. Will Sullivan follow in Tortorella’s successful footsteps in New York, or are we destined to see another coaching change two years from now after losing sight of the bigger picture?
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