Breaking: New York Rangers release David Quinn and coaching staff
The NY Post’s Larry Brooks is reporting that the Rangers have released David Quinn and his entire coaching staff.
Rangers release David Quinn, start search for new coach
Almost to a man, every Blueshirt that spoke on their exit interviews made it clear that it’s all about the playoffs now. “Talk is cheap,” Chris Kreider said. He made it a point that everyone in the organization needs to do whatever they have to this summer to make it happen. “Our attitude starting right now has to be we’re making the playoffs next year.”
Now they will have a new man behind the bench to lead that charge.
David Quinn was not made available to the media on breakup day. That fueled speculation that the Rangers would be moving on and looking to bring in a more experienced coach for the next phase. That is where we are today.
John Tortorella is the leading candidate to replace Quinn
On a recent episode of Real Kyper at Noon, Nick Kypreos said he heard whispers that Mike Babcock may be a name considered for the next Rangers head coach. It sounds like Babcock really wants to get back in the NHL and could be lobbying hard to get his name under consideration.
Also during the show, Kypreos’ cohost Doug Maclean heard a name I did as well. James Dolan absolutely loves Torts. Matter of fact, Dolan responded to a question about him just months after his firing in NY that almost sounded like a love letter.
I miss John Tortorella. I’d visit Torts before a game and we would trade barbs for 10 minutes, he’d tell me about his [lousy] cable TV service and I’d be sitting there saying, “You can’t clear the puck out of your zone, what the hell’s wrong with you?” and he’d strike back and then play the game and I miss that. I’m developing a relationship with Alain [Vigneault] and he’s also a good guy, but Torts and I had a special relationship. It was fun for me. He banned me from the locker room for a while, all in fun. I miss that.
NY Post
There’s likely to be a myriad of coaches interviewed. Both Tortorella and Babcock would be candidates, as could Gerard Gallant and Claude Julien. Another name that may get an interview is Patrick Roy, an old teammate of Drury’s in Colorado.
However, all that’s happened has been set into motion thanks to James Dolan’s desire to change the culture. A culture he claims was missing that winning attitude. While the decisions are said to be completely in Drury’s hands there’s no doubt in my mind that it will be Tortorella’s job again.
Drury also has good history with Torts and a mutual respect. During Torts’ first few years at the helm in NY it was Drury that was his captain before injury forced him to retire. They both have a desire to win it all on Broadway and the reunion that dates back almost 20 years is in the making.
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