The NHL playoffs started Tuesday night, but New York Rangers head coach David Quinn is looking forward to June.
The New York Rangers moved from the number six spot to the second spot in the NHL draft, and everyone including head coach David Quinn is excited.
Speaking with the New York Post’s Larry Brooks, Quinn said: “I became a much better coach.”
Well, of course, you did, David; for the first time in a long time, the Rangers are going to have a young elite player at their disposal, either Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko.
We won’t know until draft day which player will be a Ranger, but that isn’t stopping Quinn from thinking about what the future might be coaching one of these two great talents.
“Having this pick gives you a great shot at getting an impact player, a difference-maker and a game-changer, and there’s an opportunity for that right out of the gate.”
Most fans felt the Rangers hurt their lottery chances when they took three out of a possible four points to close the season. But like general manager Jeff Gorton said, the Rangers were banking on some good Karma to help them.
Quinn mentioned to Brooks how he and the rest of the coaching staff were talking after the Rangers 4-3 overtime won over Pittsburgh about how they “didn’t care.”
“If you do things the right way, you’re going to be rewarded.”
The Blueshirts head coach talked about how he’s already started watching both of Kakko’s and Hughes’s game. He knows a little more about Hughes due to the duo’s Team USA affiliation but also had some nice things to say about Kakko to Brooks.
“He’s got a pro body from the get-go, his release is just superior and he wants to shoot the puck. He sees the play ahead of the play. He skates fast and he plays fast. If he’s our guy, we’re going to have a really, really good one.”
Quinn mentioned how there could a chance for either Kakko or Hughes to play in the NHL this year, but he doesn’t want to jump too far ahead. He’s not wrong thinking like this considering how the Blueshirt’s might have overhyped Lias Andersson.
We still have to get through the two months of playoff hockey before we can start thinking about the draft, but why not get excited because the Rangers are going to have a very good player on their roster next year.
