An update on the John Tortorella situation in New York

UPDATE 2: Despite reports yesterday that long-time NHL coach John Tortorella was expected to join Mike Sullivan's staff as an assistant on the New York Rangers, it looks like that may not be the case.

ESPN insider Emily Kaplan reports now that Tortorella will not join the team now, despite reporting the opposite just yesterday.

Read below for our earlier reports on this developing story, including this morning's news out of New York.

UPDATE: It's official, the New York Rangers have hired Mike Sullivan as their next head coach.

Read below for our earlier report on this developing story.

The Torts and Sully Reunion is coming together.

Free agent NHL coaches John Tortorella and Mike Sullivan are reportedly set to be reunited behind an NHL bench with the New York Rangers.

ESPN insider Emily Kaplan reported today that the Rangers are in "advanced contract talks" to hire Sullivan as their next head coach. Kaplan followed up this report to add that Tortorella is expected to re-join the Rangers, presumably on Sullivan's staff as an assistant.

Sullivan and Tortorella of course have a long history of coaching together at the NHL level. 

In many ways, Tortorella was somewhat of a mentor for Sullivan before Sullivan received his shot at the head coaching position with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sullivan was an assisant under Tortorella for six seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Rangers and Vancouver Canucks.

Now, after 11 seasons of plying their trades apart, they'll be back on the same grind. You love to see it.