Nine NHL teams appoint new coaches in offseason reshaping league

Nine NHL teams have installed new head coaches this offseason, a wave of change driven by the demand for proven leadership in a talent-rich league. At the center is Mike Sullivan, who left Pittsburgh after nearly a decade to take over the New York Rangers, an Original Six club that missed the playoffs last season but remains stacked with talent. Sullivan has coached Sidney Crosby and was chosen by USA Hockey to lead the country at the upcoming Olympics in Milan, setting the stage for a high-profile second act in New York.

His arrival comes with a hands-on approach. Sullivan spent the summer building relationships with players off the ice as well as on it. 'This is a new challenge for me,' he said, expressing his excitement. 'Obviously a good pedigree,' defenseman Carson Soucy said, describing him as intense, detail-focused and driven to win. The Rangers have not won the Cup since 1994, but they reached the Eastern Conference final in 2024.

Quenneville is back in the league with Anaheim, four years after resigning from Florida amid the investigation into Chicago's 2010 sexual assault allegations. At his introductory news conference, Quenneville acknowledged the questions about his return and pledged to demonstrate through actions that he is a man of character. The Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup three times under his leadership, and only Scotty Bowman has more NHL wins. 'Just to have a voice like that behind the bench guiding and leading our team, we got a good mix of some veterans and some young guys, so I think it’s a great hire and I’m really, really excited to play for him,' winger Sam Colangelo said.

Tocchet's decision not to renew his contract with Vancouver opened a vacancy in Philadelphia, a homecoming of sorts for Tocchet, who played over 700 games in orange and black during his playing days. 'Him being back in Philly and wanting to be there and picking us, his excitement for where we’re headed, I think that excites us as a team and kind of the growth that we’re about to take,' Sanheim said. 'He’s already a step ahead. He already knows the organization, the city, the fans and so I think that’s going benefit us moving forward.'

In Dallas, the Stars dismissed Peter DeBoer after three straight trips to the West final, a decision that also came after his handling of a controversial moment in the playoffs. 'You never want to see anyone lose their job,' Oettinger said. 'It’s a tough business and with how good we’ve been the last three years, it’s tough. … Looking forward to getting a fresh start.' The club also welcomed Gulutzan back as head coach, 12 years after his first stint with Dallas. Gulutzan has spent the past seven seasons as an Edmonton Oilers assistant, where he ran the power play and earned praise from Connor McDavid for his communication skills.

Boston appears poised for a new era with Sturm behind the bench. 'This is the time,' Sturm said. 'Timing is everything. And I couldn't end up in a better spot than Boston.' In Chicago, Connor Bedard, the top pick in 2023, might finally have a long-term coach after Luke Richardson was fired last December and the season unfolded with Anders Sorensen serving as interim coach. Bedard said little about that transition, but the situation underscored how much teams are trying to stabilize the coaching position.

Blashill is taking on his second head-coaching job in the NHL after seven seasons with Detroit from 2015-22. 'We’re excited to have him,' Bedard said. 'He’s thrilled to be with us. He’s showing a ton of excitement.'

Muse, who was an assistant under former Rangers coach Peter Laviolette, takes over in Pittsburgh as the franchise navigates a crossroads with Crosby, Malkin and Letang still around but a youth movement looming. Muse has already drawn attention from players. 'I came and grabbed dinner here at the rink,' Letang said. 'When I left, I think it was 8 o’clock and he was still on his computer working on some stuff. So there you go. You see the passion that he has for the game and trying to work on every little detail to make us better and improve every single guy out there.'

Tocchet's departure opened a void for the Canucks, who would love to keep elite defenseman and captain Quinn Hughes around beyond the end of his current contract in 2027. Hughes said it’s different being a head coach and that there will be challenges, but he believes the new hire is prepared for the job.

AP Sports Writers Will Graves in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, and Jimmy Golen in Boston contributed.