New York Rangers assistant coach Greg Brown will get the chance to take what he’s learned over the last 14 years at BC and implement it on a young NHL squad.
New York Rangers newly hired assistant coach Greg Brown couldn’t pass up the opportunity to coach with David Quinn on Broadway.
“My initial reaction when David asked me was complete excitement for the opportunity,” Brown told Matt Calamia of NYRangers.com on Tuesday. “The opportunity was just too great to pass up. I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
While with Boston College, Brown ran the defense and also worked on special teams and skill bonding. For 14-years, Brown stood on the B.C. Eagles bench and had the opportunity to coach some current NHL players. Brian Dumoulin, Noah Hanifin, Mike Matheson, Ian McCoshen and Steven Santini have all been touched by the experience of Greg Brown.
Rangers forward Chris Kreider played under Brown for three seasons at B.C. The two were part of two National Championships, 2010 and 2012, and Kreider gave all the credit to Brown for helping him develop his game.
Kreider told Calamia, “I’m incredibly excited,” Kreider said of Brown joining the staff. “I had a good rapport and relationship with him at B.C. I can attribute my development … to working with him [and the coaching staff]. He’s such an unbelievable coach when it comes to skill development and the power play.
Brown has also coached Brady Skjei and Ryan Lindgren in different World Junior Championships tournaments which will help the coach and players with a smooth transition to the new coaching staff.
Aside from player familiarities, Brown and head coach David Quinn of a history together. The two played hockey together when they were teammates at the 1986 World Junior Championship. Brown kept in touch with Quinn’s career as he was the head coach and rival at Boston University. His familiarity professionally and personally with the head coach was a huge factor in his decision to join the Rangers coaching staff.
David Quinn was thrilled to have him join the club.
“I have a lot of respect for his insight and knowledge,” Quinn said of Brown. “I always thought it would be a great fit for the NHL.”
Rangers Stanley Cup Champion Brian Leetch Appreciates Brown
Brian Leetch is another Blueshirt who is familiar with Brown’s style and work ethic. The current hockey operations advisor, Leetch played with Brown at Boston College as well as at various international events with Team USA, including the 1988 Winter Olympics.
Leetch said of Brown, “He’s always searching for how to reach a player in a different way.”
Brown is a strategic coach and is very involved in the team’s progression. Day in and day out, he looks for communication between himself and the player as the team concept is first and foremost the most important thing the assistant coach.
He loved coaching at Boston College, but the opportunity to coach an original six hockey club was one he could not pass on. The hiring in New York comes at a time when his children will both be attending Boston College this fall.
This is the challenge Brown strives for: an opportunity to teach some really young kids and some veteran NHL players.
It is the best situation for the rookie assistant bench coach. The New York Rangers and David Quinn have the right combination to get the team heading back to winning games on Broadway.
