Sullivan was a Rangers assistant under John Tortorella when they selected Miller in the first round (No. 15 overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft and again when he played his first 26 games in the NHL in 2013.

Asked about his new top defenseman and potential Olympic bubble player Thursday, Sullivan called him "an elite player in this league."

Newly hired New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan made communication his No. 1 priority upon arrival. Sullivan revealed during his introductory press conference on Thursday that he has already spoken directly to every player on the roster, making that his first act as the leader of the Rangers' bench.