Rangers Daily: Is assistant coach candidate in Toronto?; Game 7 in Buffalo
After Craig Berube’s dismissal as Toronto Maple Leafs coach last week, the name of one New York Rangers assistant emerged as a possible candidate to land the gig. And it may not be the one you expect.
If you guessed David Quinn, who coached the Rangers and San Jose Sharks for five seasons, and is now back on Broadway working as an assistant under Mike Sullivan, you’re incorrect. Well, at least per Luke Fox’s list of Toronto coaching candidates published on Sportsnet, where Quinn was not mentioned, but Joe Sacco was.
Of course, the only list of coaching candidates that matters here is that of Toronto’s new general manager John Chayka. And guess what? He’s not publicly revealing that list of options to replace Berube.
But Fox is a well-respected reporter and his opinion matters when it comes to the Maple Leafs. So, when he includes Sacco as one of his top-seven candidates for this job, we pay attention.
It also needs to be mentioned here that Bruce Cassidy is No. 1 on his list, though the former Jack Adams Trophy winner and Stanley Cup champion coach with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023 is also highly sought after by the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings, as well.
But back to Sacco, a Boston University alum like Sullivan and Quinn, who joined the Rangers before this past season, after working for 10 years with the Boston Bruins. First an assistant coach, then an associate, and finally interim head coach for the final 60 games in 2024-25 following Jim Montgomery’s dismissal, Sacco ultimately did not land the Bruins full-time gig, that went to Marco Sturm instead.
Sacco was 24-30-6 with the Bruins, who finished last in the Atlantic Division that season. Previously, Sacco coached the Colorado Avalanche for four seasons. In his first season as an NHL head coach in 2009-10, Sacco was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year, leading Colorado to a second-place finish with a 43-30-9 record. The Avalanche missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs the next three seasons.
As a player, Sacco was a 1987 draft pick by the Maple Leafs and played 60 of his 738 NHL games with them. So, there’s a small Maple Leafs connection there for Sacco. Let’s see if he indeed lands an interview.
New York Rangers news and analysis
If Mason McTavish really is on the trade market, here’s why the Rangers must explore a possible deal for the Anaheim Ducks forward.
With their second pick, later in the first round, of this year’s draft, the Rangers should have intriguing several options. Our Jess Rubenstein breaks it all down.
From the IIHF World Championship, Rangers defensemen Will Borgen (United States) and Urho Vaakanainen (Finland) made their way on to the score sheet early in the tournament. Here’s a breakdown of how current and former Rangers fared in the tourney’s first few days.
Here’s how a “temper tantrum,” even in the middle of team success, cost former Rangers coach John Tortorella $100,000 after the his Vegas Golden Knights advanced to the Western Conference Final.
Admittedly it’s a dream scenario, but here’s all that the Rangers must do to make signing Pavel Dorofeyev to an offer sheet this summer a long-shot reality.
ICYMI, here’s a detailed analysis of why Alexis Lafreniere must always face a certain specific uncomfortable reality with the Rangers.
NHL news and rumors
NHL.com: The Buffalo Sabres, fresh off a must-win game 6 victory in Montreal on Saturday, plan to bring a road mentality into Game 7 on home ice against the Canadiens on Monday.
Montreal Hockey Now: Marc Dumont explains in full exactly how the Canadiens arrived here for Game 7 against the Sabres.
TSN: Forget bouncing back after their disappointing Game 6 defeat, the Canadiens plan to “bounce forward” in Game 7 on the road.
Sportsnet: On the latest 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman reports that the Maple Leafs had an initial contact with David Carle, coach of defending national champion Denver, to gauge his interest in leaving the NCAA for the NHL.
New Jersey Hockey Now: James Nichols discusses nuclear trade option for the Devils, and some follow-up moves afterward if they go the Quinn Hughes route.
Florida Hockey Now: Will the Panthers introduce a new pink jersey next season? George Richards explains after the new threads are leaked publicly.
Carolina Hockey Now: Remember the Hurricanes? Yeah, they’re still in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but haven’t played in forever because they swept each of their first two opponents in the postseason. Once they do resume play in the Eastern Conference Final against either the Sabres or Canadiens, Rachel Barkley explains why this is finally the time for the ‘Canes to end their conference final hex.
