Former Penguins coach Mike Sullivan has a new job with the Rangers. New York’s media shares its reaction to the news.
Marc-Andre Fleury ends his career with the Minnesota Wild.
The Steelers are looking at an interesting offensive line prospect. And one analyst thinks it is time for the club to move on from Aaron Rodgers.
All that in Friday’s “First Call.”
Broadway bound
Even before the deal was done, multiple outlets had been reporting about the New York Rangers announcing that Mike Sullivan would become their new head coach.
The New York Rangers are in advanced contract talks to make former Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan the next head coach, sources told @emilymkaplan and @KevinWeekes on Thursday.
The deal is expected to be one of the richest coaching contracts in NHL history, the sources… pic.twitter.com/YQrc4wKquX
— ESPN (@espn) May 2, 2025
Vince Mercogliano of SNY and USA Today had the news first on Thursday.
The #NYR haven’t confirmed or announced anything officially yet, but it sounds like things are getting close and very much trending toward Mike Sullivan becoming the 38th head coach in franchise history.
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) May 1, 2025
Estimates on the deal have Sullivan potentially making more than $7 million per season. He was believed to be making at least $5.5 to $6 million in Pittsburgh, with two years remaining on his contract when he was let go by the Penguins on Monday.
On WFAN in New York on Thursday, the hire was getting approval from some of the hosts on the air, but a mixed reaction in terms of how long Sullivan would last in the Big Apple.
.@ShaunMorash breaks the news to @EvanandTikiWFAN that the Rangers could be closing in on Mike Sullivan as their next head coach: pic.twitter.com/8bpQlLCbR4
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) May 1, 2025
Also from the Rangers, Joe Micheletti has decided to retire after 19 seasons in the team’s broadcast booth. Longtime partner Sam Rosen had previously announced his retirement in advance of the 2024-25 season.
Rodgers’ needs to stay ‘relevant’
On the NFL Network, Ross Tucker had a harsh assessment of potential Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“He doesn’t really want to play,” Tucker said Thursday on “Good Morning Football.” “I think he wants to stay relevant. So I think he will play for the Steelers, but this doesn’t make any sense either short-term or long-term for Pittsburgh in my mind.”
Tucker suggested that Rodgers’ prolonged decision is making the Steelers look bad.
“These are the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they’re still waiting for this guy to decide if he wants to play,” Tucker said. “By the way, if a guy is waiting this long to decide whether or not they want to play, they don’t really want to play.”
Tucker added that the Steelers should have moved on from Rodgers already and insists that Pittsburgh doesn’t particularly make sense as a destination for Rodgers either.
.@RossTuckerNFL explains why the Pittsburgh Steelers should move on from potentially signing Aaron Rodgers.
????: https://t.co/2FEnnIWBvp pic.twitter.com/IrBo38YpnB
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) May 1, 2025
Frankly, I agree on both fronts.
Fleury’s final skate
The Minnesota Wild were eliminated from the first round of the NHL playoffs on Thursday. They dropped a decisive Game 6 to the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 at home.
Mark Stone had the eventual game-winner for the Knights.
"Saucered in front — Stone scores!"
"Flips it in out of mid-air!"
???? @Dan_DUva
Mark Stone bats a puck into the net for Vegas' third goal of the game. pic.twitter.com/Mp85fqwlj9
— Golden Knights Radio (@VGKRadioNetwork) May 2, 2025
The loss means Marc-Andre Fleury’s career is over. He saluted the fans leaving the ice after the defeat.
Marc-Andre Fleury salutes the crowd and leaves the ice for the final time in his NHL career ???? pic.twitter.com/FVUjHwz7SI
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 2, 2025
The former Penguin played just 24 minutes during the series. Filip Gustavsson was the primary goalie for the Wild.
After the game ended, the NHL posted a series of videos from various NHL stars congratulating Fleury on his career, including former teammate Sidney Crosby.
Marc-Andre Fleury's peers had nothing but great things to say about him ❤️
Forever a legend. pic.twitter.com/0ddb1ij0C8
— NHL (@NHL) May 2, 2025
The 21-year veteran retires with 575 regular season wins, the second most in NHL history behind Martin Brodeur (695). He’s also second behind Brodeur (1,266) in games played (1,051). He was part of three Stanley Cup winners in Pittsburgh.
More sports
• Among college coaching candidates to replace Mike Sullivan, 1 name makes more sense than the rest
• Pirates fan who fell from above Clemente Wall identified, remains in critical condition
• Podcast: Mike Sullivan’s departure from the Penguins
Big project
The Steelers are bringing a massive offensive lineman into Pittsburgh for a look.
According to Lindenwood athletics, Gareth Warren will be part of the Steelers rookie minicamp. The offensive lineman from Hawaii is 6-foot-5, 328-pounds.
Gareth Warren of the @LindenwoodFB ???????? team has earned an invite to Pittsburgh Steelers mini camp!
???? | https://t.co/7aFHyAfxbT#NewLevel pic.twitter.com/8CLBxtUsLp
— Lindenwood Athletics (@LU_Lions) April 30, 2025
With the Lions, Warren has played both left guard and left tackle. According to SteelersNow.com, the senior was an All-Ohio Valley Conference second-team selection in 2022, and participated in the East-West Shrine game.
Lindenwood — in Lake Charles, Mo. — moved up to Division I in 2022.
Listen: Tim Benz and Brian Metzer discuss Mike Sullivan’s departure from the Penguins
