After missing out on the National Hockey League (NHL) play-offs for the first time in four years last season, the New York Rangers have taken drastic action.
Two-time Stanley Cup winning coach Mike Sullivan has been appointed on a five-year deal worth $32.5 million and is tasked with taking the team back to the top.
Team President and General Manager Chris Drury was desperate to persuade Sullivan to join the Rangers and pursued him aggressively once he knew he was available.
His appointment could potentially shake-up the NHL betting markets. The Rangers are a best priced 35/1 to win the 2025/26 Stanley Cup, but those odds could tumble before the season starts.
Savvy punters will be keen to acquire sportsbook promos in the US to wager on the Rangers given Sullivan’s reputation for building winning NHL teams.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity to build a partnership with Chris,” Sullivan said. “I’m really excited about what we could build here moving forward that we could all be proud of.
“It’s already a great relationship, and I think it’s only going to get better every day.”
Salary cap limitations will prevent the Rangers from make significant roster changes this year, which means Sullivan must work his magic with the current crop of players.
Star winger Artemi Panarin will be crucial to the team’s hopes. He weighed in with 89 points in 80 games last season, but Sullivan will hope he can break the 100-point mark this term.
Some pundits have suggested the Rangers should consider trading Panarin to help revamp the roster, but NHL insider Frank Seravalli believes they should resist the temptation.
“I don’t think the Rangers should sell off and acquire valuable prospects and draft picks,” Seravalli said. “I think the Rangers are a play-off team. I think they’re bouncing right back into it.
“They’re going to have new blood with a new coach, new energy. They have to defend better as a team, but maybe the coaching will help with some of that.
“I’m bullish on the Rangers. I think they’re in a prime spot to compete.”
One of the biggest criticisms of Panarin is his inability to replicate his regular season points production during the cut and thrust of the play-offs.
The Russian forward notched a notched a career-high 120 points in 82 games in 2023/24, but weighed in with just 15 points in 16 post-season matches.
Panarin is entering the final season of his seven-year contract worth $81.5 million and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer if no extension is agreed.
Despite this, Seravalli believes the Rangers must persevere with Panarin for another season before determining what the future holds for him.
“I know people have complained he’s not the guy you win with in the play-offs, but he is a good player and he does help you win in the regular season,” Seravalli added.
“Let’s see what happens in this last year with Panarin, and then what they decide to do next on that front, as well.
With a proven Stanley Cup-winning coach behind the bench and Panarin leading the attack, it would be foolish to underestimate the Rangers’ chances of making a deep run in the play-offs this season.
This season will likely be the current roster’s last chance to prove they have what it takes to win the Stanley Cup and it will be intriguing to see if they can get the job done.
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