Original Six Rival Takes Coach Candidate Away From Bruins

A fascinating head-coach candidate emerged for the Bruins on Monday, but he was off the market in the blink of an eye.

The New York Rangers on Friday announced they hired Mike Sullivan to be the 38th head coach in the franchise’s rich history. Sullivan replaced Peter Laviolette a mere four days after the former and the Pittsburgh Penguins agreed to part ways following 10 seasons together.

Sullivan was thought to be of interest in Boston, where the two-time Stanley Cup champion coach has a variety of connections. The Bruins gave the Marshfield, Mass., native his first shot at NHL head coaching in 2003, less than two decades after Sullivan was a four-year standout at Boston University. The 57-year-old also just so happens to be the father-in-law of Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who seemingly is a candidate to become the Black and Gold’s next captain.

But now, the B’s will watch from afar as Sullivan tries to guide a turnaround for the Blueshirts. The futures of both Original Six franchises could receive a shot of optimism Monday via the results of the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery.