Benoit Allaire
Benoit Allaire was named Assistant and Goaltending Coach for the New York Rangers on July 15, 2004.
Under the direction of Allaire, Rangers standout Henrik Lundqvist has achieved considerable success, setting the team record for most wins by a goaltender in his first two NHL seasons (67) and was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy in each of his first two seasons. In 2005-06, with Allaire, Lundqvist enjoyed a breakout rookie season and was among the league leaders in several categories for goaltenders. Lundqvist was selected to the NHL's All-Rookie Team, while ranking fourth in the league in save percentage (.922) and fifth in goals against average (2.24). Prior to coming to New York, Allaire spent seven seasons as the goaltending coach for the Phoenix Coyotes. He also served as the goaltending instructor for the Montreal Canadiens for one season in 1997. Under the direction of Allaire, the Coyotes goaltenders enjoyed tremendous improvement and success. Before joining the Coyotes organization in 1999, Sean Burke appeared in 536 NHL matches and posted a 3.21 goals against average and .895 save percentage with 19 shutouts. While with Allaire, Burke's play improved enormously, appearing in 211 matches with Phoenix and recording a 2.39 goals against average, a .919 save percentage and 15 shutouts. He was also nominated for both the Vezina and Lester B. Pearson Trophies following the 2001-02 season and appeared in the NHL All-Star Game twice (2001, 2002). Additionally, Coyotes goaltender Brian Boucher established a new modern NHL record shutout sequence from December 22, 2003 to January 11, 2004, going 332:01 without allowing a goal and recording five shutouts. Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin also posted significantly improved statistics under the tutelage of Allaire. Prior to Allaire joining Phoenix, Khabibulin posted a 3.02 goals against average and a .906 save percentage with nine shutouts from 1994-95 to 1996-97. Over his two seasons with Allaire (1997-98, 1998-99), Khabibulin twice participated in the NHL All-Star Game and shaved more than half a goal off his goals against average. In 133 games under Allaire, he registered a 2.45 goals against average and a .911 save percentage with 12 shutouts.
A native of St. Janvier, Quebec, Allaire served as a goaltending instructor for six seasons (1989-95) in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with three different teams: Laval, Verdun and Granby. During his stay in the QMJHL, the goaltenders under Allaire's supervision won two President's Cups (QMJHL championships) and played in two Memorial Cup Tournaments (Canadian Hockey League championship). In the past, Allaire has helped develop some of the game's best young goaltenders including Jose Theodore, Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Mathieu Garon and Sebastien Caron. Benoit and his wife, Lyne Chalut, live in Ossining, New York.