Rangers want new coach with hands-on approach to developing talent

GREENBURGH, N.Y . -- The New York Rangers' next coach will be someone with new ideas and a hands-on approach to helping young players evolve and develop at the NHL level.
"Fresh is a good word," Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton said Monday. "I think we're looking for somebody that can help us get back to an identity we want to get to."

The Rangers fired Alain Vigneault on Saturday after finishing the season, his fifth behind their bench, last in the Metropolitan Division with 77 points (34-39-9). They fired associate coach Scott Arniel and assistant Darryl Williams on Sunday.
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Assistant Lindy Ruff remains on staff for now, but Gorton plans to meet with him to find out what his plans might be. He wouldn't rule out Ruff being a candidate to replace Vigneault.
Goaltending coach Benoit Allaire is expected to return for his 14th season.
Vigneault is third in wins (226) and fourth in games coached (410) in Rangers history. He's also third in Stanley Cup Playoff wins (31) and playoff games coached (61).

Gorton said the decision to fire Vigneault was made last week, but he felt the coach deserved to finish the season.
Now that it's over, his search for Vigneault's successor has begun in earnest. Gorton said he already has a list of candidates, but he's still compiling more names. Some potential candidates have reached out to him as well.
"I would expect we'd talk to somewhere between five and 10 [candidates]," Gorton said. "Probably talk to more, but interview between five and 10 candidates. We'll look anywhere, whether it's AHL, NHL, wherever we can find the best possible coach going forward."
Gorton said the next coach must be able to work with young players, because the Rangers plan on being a relatively young team. He is ruling out candidates with zero coaching experience, but he seems open to interviewing candidates with zero or limited NHL coaching experience.
"After five years, we think it's time for a change," Gorton said. "The players need a new voice and the organization needs a new coach as we go forward with our group."
Gorton wouldn't put a timeline on hiring a coach. He doesn't think it's necessary to have one before the 2018 NHL Draft, which is June 22-23 in Dallas, but agreed it could be helpful to have one in place before the unrestricted free agent signing period begins July 1.
"We'll take some time," Gorton said.
Gorton said he went into the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline thinking Vigneault would return for his sixth season.
He had traded defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Nick Holden, and forwards Rick Nash, Michael Grabner and J.T. Miller, but Gorton wanted Vigneault to be a part of evaluating some of the young players he potentially was going to coach next season too.
The Rangers were 5-2-2 in their first nine games following the deadline, but went 2-7-1 in their last 10 games and lost their final three games in regulation by a combined 12-3.

Gorton said he was particularly disappointed by how the Rangers played Saturday, when they lost 5-0 to the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. The Flyers clinched a playoff berth with the win.
"I understand where players are and that the other team is playing for something. But at the end of the day we have players in the lineup that are trying to stay in the League that should be playing for something too," Gorton said. "If they wanted to be here, they needed to show that."
Vigneault gave an impassioned speech in his postgame press conference, defending himself and his coaching staff. He said he fully expected to keep his job, but Gorton indicated his fate was sealed before that and he informed Vigneault of the decision soon after.
"It was disappointing, the last week, the way it ended," Gorton said. "But it's over now and we're moving forward."