Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan and ex-Rangers coach John Tortorella have been together since 2007, having served on the same coaching staff six times. Sullivan was an assistant to Tortorello in Tampa Bay, New York and Vancouver for a total of six seasons and was also on Tortorell's U.S. staff for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. The two have since swapped roles and Sullivan praised Tortorelli's ability to evolve with the game and bring a ton of energy to Vegas. The Golden Knights' hiring comes with only 10 games left in the 2025-26 season and a potential playoff run imminent.