After more than a year on the NHL coaching carousel without landing a new opportunity, former New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant is making a surprising pivot. According to NHL insider Pierre LeBrun, the 61-year-old coach is heading to Russia to take on a role in the KHL.

Mike Sullivan will coach against the team he coached for the past 10 seasons when the Rangers open the season.

Here are seven reasons why new Head Coach Mike Sullivan will help the Rangers turn the tide: 1. He transformed a mediocre and underperforming Pittsburgh Penguins team when he got hired in December of 2015.