The Rangers are about to see what has made Mike Sullivan an elite leader everywhere he’s been

In December 2015, Mike Sullivan walked into the locker room in Pittsburgh to address a struggling Penguins team for the first time since he replaced Mike Johnston as head coach.

The club had gone 15-10-3 to start the 2014-15 season, which was six years removed from its last Stanley Cup and unfolding on the heels of an embarrassing five-game, first-round exit to none other than the New York Rangers the campaign prior.

Holdovers from the 2009 championship team in that room wanted to build a dynasty. The closest the Penguins had come to another title was the 2013 conference final, when they were swept by the Bruins in four games. They had lost three seven-game series over the years and were looking to restore their championship pedigree.

Sullivan, who was promoted from his head coaching post with the team’s minor league affiliate in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., came into that room with conviction from his first day.