PUBLICATION

Ryan Hall
June 6, 2025  (11:00)

New York Rangers owner James Dolan #nhl #rangers

Photo credit: Wendell Cruz | USA TODAY Sports

The influence an involvement around the New York Rangers and the New York Knicks owner James Dolan is on full display as he had fired another head coach in Tom Thibodeau with the New York Knicks.

Thibodeau along with Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette both lost their jobs as both teams fell short of Dolan’s expectations after the Knicks were bounced out of the Eastern Conference final against the Indiana Pacers.

Dolan’s influence and control gives head coaches a short leash

Dolan has made it clear over the past several years especially with the Rangers organization that his head coaches have a short leash to work with and that results or what will determine their fate.

The team hired former Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan who had spent time with the New York Rangers back in 2009 as an assistant coach who will now run their bench.

Despite his impressive resume of 2 Stanley cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins and a great winning record along with the team that was very competitive in the NHL playoffs will also have the same short leash as all the other coaches as the turn around for this team is expected to be immediate and quick.

Dolan has also showed his loyalty towards his general manager as he had given a new contract to Rangers general manager Chris Drury after many felt that he could be on his way out the door after the Rangers had missed the playoffs one year removed from being the President’s Trophy winners.

Drury has the runway to turn his team around

With his new deal, Drury now has the runway he needs to help turn the team around and change the look and style of play that will work with this generation of Stanley Cup playoffs.

Sullivan will also demand a different culture from his players and could likely mean several players will be leaving the organization in a retool or even a rebuild that could see the Rangers back in the playoffs as early as next year.

It will be a fascinating summer on how Drury is going to handle all the change that’s needed, but one thing is certain is that his owner will be watching very closely on how the Rangers will turn things around or have trouble again next year which could change his opinion on his general manager.

Previously on NYRangersInsider