The Mike Sullivan Trait That Made a Lasting Impact on Henrik Lundqvist
Mike Sullivan has undoubtedly evolved over the 12 years since he last served as an assistant coach with the Rangers under John Tortorella. However, the impression he left during that time had a lasting effect on Henrik Lundqvist, especially as Sullivan stepped into the spotlight as head coach of the Rangers.
“I loved playing for Sully,” the Hall of Fame goaltender shared with The Post at BTIG’s Charity Day on Tuesday, where he was promoting the Henrik Lundqvist Foundation. “He was great. He communicated clearly.”
Lundqvist acknowledged that being an assistant coach is very different from being a head coach, and while he never had Sullivan as a head coach, he believed that the combination of Tortorella and Sullivan worked wonderfully. “We had a lot of success, and as a person, I really enjoyed having him around. I think it’s a great hire.”
When Sullivan and the Penguins parted ways, it seemed inevitable that Rangers GM Chris Drury — who had long admired Sullivan — would aggressively pursue the two-time Stanley Cup champion. Sure enough, Sullivan was quickly named the Rangers’ new head coach, with Drury finally bringing in his fellow Boston University alum.
After a disastrous 2024-25 season where the Rangers missed the playoffs and appeared disengaged, Sullivan faces the challenge of re-establishing a winning culture with a team that could see significant changes this offseason.
“I think anytime a new coach comes in, they want to establish their style and mentality,” Lundqvist explained. “Of course, you consider the team and the organization’s culture, but as a coach, you want to implement your own vision. We’ll see how it plays out, but I think Sullivan has all the qualities to succeed, especially with his track record in Pittsburgh. Players respect him.”
Lundqvist also believes the players will be more driven this summer, given how last season ended.
“As a player, you just focus on getting better,” he said. “Physically, mentally, technically. That’s what you work on during the summer. Sure, you take some time to rest, but then the real preparation starts. You want to come back stronger. No matter how last season went, it’s over.
“Now, all the focus shifts to: What can I do to improve? It’s about three things: technical, physical, and mental. Everyone has room for improvement, and that doesn’t change whether you win or lose. Sometimes, you go into a summer more motivated to put in the extra work.
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