How Rangers Mike Sullivan is approaching first return to Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — At a time when NHL coaches are discarded and recycled at an alarming rate, Mike Sullivan established himself in Pittsburgh. The city welcomes him back at PPG Paints Arena on Saturday night, when Sullivan returns for the first time as head coach of the Rangers to take on the team he led for the previous 10 years, the Penguins.  Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.It is sure to be a meaningful night for all involved.

What Sullivan was able to accomplish with the Penguins — building a culture and fostering relationships that induced his longevity — is exactly what the Rangers had in mind when the organization hired the veteran coach four days after he became available. “Obviously, you know, it’s different,” Sullivan said after coaching against the Penguins for the first time in the Rangers’ season opener earlier this week.“It’s different.

I knew that was going to be the case.But I’m excited about the group we have here in front of me with the Rangers.

I’m looking forward to working with this group.” Sullivan wrapped up his Penguins tenure as the winningest head coach in franchise history (409), the all-time leader in games coached (753) and playoff games coached (82). Sullivan became the first coach to lead the Penguins to consecutive Stanley Cups, doing so in his first two seasons at the helm.He was also the third bench boss in franchise history, as well as just the sixth in the NHL, to win the Cup following a mid-season coaching change, joining Scotty Bowman (1992) and Dan Bylsma (2009). To this day, Sullivan is still the only American-born head coach to win the Stanley Cup multiple times. “You always have to look at the history of any place you’ve gone into,” said new Penguins coach Dan Muse, who coincidentally worked as an assistant coach under ex-Rangers coach Peter Laviolette the previous two seasons...