The Rangers are hiring Mike Sullivan as the 38th head coach in franchise history.

Sullivan had long been rumored as one of general manager Chris Drury’s top candidates to take over behind the bench for Peter Laviolette if he were to become available this offseason.

That became a reality earlier this week as he and the Penguins decided to part ways after their aging core and rebuilding roster failed to reach the postseason for the third consecutive year.

"I would like to welcome Mike back to the Rangers organization," owner James Dolan said in a statement. "Mike’s track record and success in the NHL and internationally speaks for itself, and I look forward to seeing him behind the Rangers bench."

Sullivan has plenty of ties to the Rangers organization. He was selected by the Blueshirts in the fourth round of the 1987 NHL Draft but elected to stay at Boston University until 1990 -- when he signed with the Sharks and began his 11-year playing career.

He spent four years behind the Rangers’ bench as an assistant under John Tortorella -- a handful of which Drury served as the captain -- and the two are plenty familiar from their BU ties and overlap with USA Hockey.

He was also the head coach for a United States squad during this year’s 4 Nations Face-Off that had Drury in the assistant GM role and a handful of key Rangers filling out the roster.

Sullivan will now be tasked with turning things around after the Rangers underperformed mightily during Laviolette’s second year at the helm -- becoming just the fourth team in league history to miss the playoffs the year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy.

He has plenty of experience under his belt -- having reached the playoffs eight different times during his 12-year coaching career. He’s also the only American-born coach to win the Stanley Cup twice and currently owns the record for the most wins in Penguins history (409).

"Mike Sullivan has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NHL," Drury said in a news release. "Given his numerous accomplishments throughout his coaching career -- including two Stanley Cups and leading Team USA at the international level -- Mike brings a championship-level presence behind the bench.

"I’ve gotten to know Mike very well over the years, including as teammates in the 1997 World Championships, when he coached me as a player in New York and through our shared time working together with USA Hockey. As we began this process and Mike became an available option for us to speak with, it was immediately clear that he was the best coach to lead our team."

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