In addition to today’s news about Peter Laviolette, the Rangers have had two additional coaching moves. First, Gord Murphy is out as assistant coach. Murphy had been with the Rangers for the start of the Gerard Gallant era, and was likely one of the key coaches behind a low-event third pair and not wanting to try kids like Zac Jones on the blue line. He may also have been the guy behind the much maligned Rangers glass-and-out defensive zone exit strategy. This is a much needed change to address a major Rangers weakness.
Kris Knoblauch will remain with the Hartford Wolf Pack as the head coach. It looks like Knoblauch was never truly in the running for the Rangers head coach job, but could have been brought on as an assistant. Instead he will continue to help Hartford with their desperately needed turnaround, hopefully turning the Rangers’ AHL affiliate into a consistent winner. The Rangers as an organization still need to figure out what they want from Hartford, more on that later this summer, but this is a good step in the right direction, whichever that may be.
Share:
More About:Coaching Moves