NHL coaching carousel 2025: Rangers hire former Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, Rick Tocchet leaves Canucks

With Nhl Out of season, which was in full evolution for many teams, the coach’s carousel saw a new head of bank on the New York Rangers on Friday.

The Rangers have hired the former Pittsburgh Penguins coach, Mike Sullivan, as a 38th coach in the history of the franchise, announced the team on Friday.

“Mike Sullivan has settled as one of the main NHL coaches,” said Rangers General Chris Drury in a statement. “Given his numerous successes throughout his coaching career, including two Stanley and Team Team used internationally, Mike brings a championship level behind the bench. I have met Mike very well over the years, including as teammates in the 1997 World Championship, when he trained as a player in New York and through our shared time with the United States. This process and began to say an option available with us, when it began to say -with an option available to talk to this process.

Earlier this week, Sullivan separated with the penguins after ten seasons. The Penguins had qualified for the post -season in seven of these seasons, including winning Stanley Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.

Sullivan has brought together a record 479-311-112 in 917 race games as main coach. He has served as coach of the Boston Bruins (2003-2006) in addition to the penguins (2015-2025). Sullivan also served as an assistant coach with the Rangers from 2009 to 2013.

In the meantime, after the Vancouver Canucks chose not to collect the Rick Tocchet contract option for the 2025-26 season, they tried to make a new agreement, but this never materialized. Now the two parties are going to their separate ways, and Tocchet published a statement in the division.

“I’m deciding to move from Vancouver’s Canucks,” said Tocchet. “The family is a priority and, with my contract, it becomes the right time. Although I do not know where I go, or exactly how this will be reproduced near the short term, I feel that this is the right time to explore other hockey opportunities and the surrounding area.”

In her two more years with the Canucks, Tocchet brought the team to a global record of 108-65-27. In 2023-24, Vancouver won the Pacific Division and reached the second round of the playoffs with Tocchet at the helm.

Seattle Kraken and Anaheim Ducks have also made coaching changes since the end of the regular season. There are also three teams with temporary coaches that make full search this season.

As equipment fills their vacancies, keep track of the entire training movement here in CBS Sports.