No surprise, former Lightning associate coach Mike Sullivan joins the Rangers
Long Island's Newsday is reporting the hire will be announced today. It has been expected to happen since the end of last season. Sullivan was under contract with Tampa Bay through June 30, but had been given permission by the Lightning to talk to other teams about head coaching positions and to teams closer to his native Massachusetts (read, the Rangers) about assistant jobs.
As for the Lightning's search for an assistant, the only name to surface is Stars associate coach and defensive specialist Rick Wilson, though GM Brian Lawton has said at least one other will be interviewed.
Follow the Lightning through the season with beat writer Damian Cristodero and the Times sports staff. We invite your participation in the comments area.
Jim-NJ is going to break down and cry
Posted by: Broi!an | July 17, 2009 at 04:02 PM
Cory Murphy signed by Devils...
Posted by: HockeyBay.com | July 17, 2009 at 10:59 AM
I love the picture they picked for the headline on this one as pretty much everyone in it is gone or about to be.
Posted by: Broi!an | July 17, 2009 at 09:56 AM
I agree lets move on from Sullivan. Wilson would be a great choice. Cant wait for season.
Posted by: Joe | July 16, 2009 at 08:54 PM
Thank goodness he is not coming back to Tampa. I agree with all your comments TVOTT and sure as hell hope they pick Wilson to get this defensive ship righted. Wilson's work at Dallas even with a bad team is amazing and sure hope he can bring the same results to the Lightning if he is signed!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: gus georgiou | July 16, 2009 at 08:26 PM
SORRY:
I was originally given the wrong info about Mike Sullivan and I am incorrect in my earlier posting. I like the Sullivan, I'm happy for his new start, and I wish him the best of luck.
Posted by: The Voice of the Turtle | July 16, 2009 at 04:25 PM
Well Mike Sullivan, it looks like you couldn't do any better anywhere else; so, you are returning to the port in a storm where you were an integral part of finishes like 30th out 30 teams in 2007-08 and 29th out of 30 teams in 2008-09.
Here's why, I'd prefer to see you elsewhere:
1) As indicated earlier, and deserved or not, you are part of a losing culture that becomes absorbed into the minds of new and returning players. Maybe they like you, but that doesn't seem to translate into wins.
2) Its not that the Lightning merits any loyalty from you since one could argue that you have been misproperly treated and need to be with another organization for the sake of your own career. Frankly, the goofs who run this franchise found you on their payroll when they took over the team, paid you to stay away, then suddenly brought you back as an ASSOCIATE Coach, then practically wrote you off as you sought employment elsewhere, and now they bring you back again.
3) Maybe not all, but many of the Lightning fans do not feel that you are the one who can instigate change on a defense that has been hapless for two or more years. One might call that a relevant crisis of confidence. One wonders if that notion isn't even more widely shared.
4) It sure as hell seems that you are not too happy about, albeit resigned to, returing as a coach on this team. Boston didn't want you back, your good pal John Tortorella did not arrange a spot for you in New York, there was no apparent interest by the USA hockey establishment to bring you back to work in the upcoming international competitions, and there were not even any rumors about offers coming your way from other sources.
So Mike, you've settled, after all, for Tampa where, unfortunately, it appears that your tail rests between your legs. Well, I guess...Welcome home, Mr. Sullivan, it seems that we are going to have to tolerate each other for another year.
Posted by: The Voice of the Turtle | July 16, 2009 at 04:16 PM
No surprise, but good luck to him in the Big Apple...
Posted by: Rob | July 16, 2009 at 03:37 PM