It has been two days since the New York Rangers relieved head coach Alain Vigneault of his duties and Monday Jeff Gorton addressed the media.
For the first time since firing Alain Vigneault, New York Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton addressed the media for the first time.
Gorton had said that the team decided to let Vigneault go about a week ago with Rangers struggling to close the season out.
Gorton says he reached decision to dismiss Vigneault last week. Doesn't rule out anyone except for those who have zero coaching experience.
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) April 9, 2018
It was also announced today that assistant coaches Scott Arniel and Daryl Williams were also relieved of their duties. Arniel had been with the Rangers in all five years of Vigneault’s tenure. Goaltending coach Benoit Allaire is expected to return, and the team has yet to determine the fate of assistant coach Lindy Ruff.
Jeff Gorton says the Rangers also fired assistants Scott Arniel and Darryl Williams yesterday. Lindy Ruff still on staff for now. Gorton wants to talk to Ruff to see what his plans are.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) April 9, 2018
In terms of how many candidates Gorton will interview, the expectation from him is that he will interview between five and 10 candidates. In terms of what that coach will bring to the table, coaching experience is a must. That means that the likes of a Martin St. Louis or Mark Messier will not be a candidate for the position.
Gorton also mentioned how he is going into this with an open mind. He wants to bring in a fresh voice, a different voice in an attempt to try and motivate his players.
Jeff Gorton says the Rangers are looking for a fresh look from a new coach. He won’t rule out candidates but sounds like he is open to bringing in someone new, someone who hasn’t been around the NHL much or coached in the league at all. TBD, obviously.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) April 9, 2018
Vigneault wasn’t the only one who underperformed this season for the Rangers. Several players did not show up when they needed them to. Gorton admitted Monday that he realized that was the case and will take it up with those players in exit meetings on Tuesday.
Alain Vigneault and his staff took the hit, GM Jeff Gorton isn’t letting the players off the hook for the Rangers struggles, particularly after the trade deadline: pic.twitter.com/UyzTzJRG7W
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) April 9, 2018
When it comes to next season, Henrik Lundqvist expects the Rangers to be relevant again. Gorton doesn’t think that is out of the question and said that the team will keep their minds open when it comes to adding talent this offseason.
Henrik Lundqvist has said the Rangers have to be about winning next season. Jeff Gorton, the GM who is running this rebuild on the fly, agrees: pic.twitter.com/4hxQyKTrIo
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) April 9, 2018
In terms of the Rangers reportedly signing Ilya Kovalchuk, Gorton would not comment because he is still employed by the New Jersey Devils until the end of this season.
