Rangers HC Mike Sullivan proven right on rookie demotion

The New York Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning, 7-3, on Wednesday. Through the sport, Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan made an attention-grabbing transfer.

He moved Gabe Perreault out of the highest line, inserting Will Cuylle subsequent to Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller. Cuylle ended the sport with two targets, proving that Sullivan made the precise name.

Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper lined up Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel and Brayden Level for that matchup. Sullivan made the choice to not expose Perreault, a rookie with little expertise, towards an elite line and opted for a extra bodily and mature winger who may deal with board battles, forecheck and backcheck.

Why Mike Sullivan made the precise name by transferring Gabe Perreault

Sullivan confirmed that his determination was primarily based on the texture of the sport. “A few of it was simply primarily based on the texture of the sport, however a few of it was simply from a matchup technique standpoint,” he stated, via New York Post’s Mollie Walker.

Dealing with the road chosen by Tampa Bay required transition protection and self-discipline with out the puck. The coach of the Blueshirts interpreted that Cuylle suits higher in that position.

Perreault is a artistic participant, however he nonetheless doesn’t have the defensive abilities for that degree. Cuylle provides higher puck safety, wall play and defensive monitoring.

Sullivan protected Perreault’s confidence and prioritized, on the identical time, the quick efficiency of the workforce, sustaining the purposeful chemistry of Zibanejad and Miller in a tricky context. The end result was the 2 targets from Cuylle.

Sullivan seems to have adopted a realistic improvement philosophy, giving his rookies favorable roles. He surely will step by step improve the issue as they progress.