The New York Rangers have relieved assistant coaches Mike Kelly and Jim Midgley of their duties according to a report by the NY Post’s Larry Brooks on Tuesday.
Additionally, Gord Murphy remains with the organization as does goalie coach Benoit Allaire.
This was not unexpected after the team and Gerard Gallant decided to “mutually part ways.”
New York Rangers relieve assistant coaches
Prior to joining the Rangers staff, Kelly was Gallant’s assistant in Florida and Vegas. The two also worked together in QMJHL with the Saint John Sea Dogs with Kelly acting as his assistant. The veteran coach also worked as GM and head coach in various other stops, including winning Gold with Team Canada in 2003 at IIHF World U18.
Midgley was a coach in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for nine seasons, including one season as the head coach of the Halifax Mooseheads (2017-18) before being added to Gallant’s staff. Midgley’s record as a head coach was 43-18-6-1. During the 2020-21 campaign, he served as an scout with the Philadelphia Flyers and was an assistant coach with Team Canada at the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
The Rangers are currently keeping Murphy around for now. He was initially hired by Chris Drury to help Kris Knoblauch in Hartford, so there’s a good connection. Murphy made sense to add to Gallant’s staff as they worked together with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
As for the goalie guru, he was never in jeopardy of losing his job.
Allaire was promoted in 2021 to Director of New York Rangers Goaltending. He was named to the staff as the goalie coach back in the summer of 2004 and helped Henrik Lundqvist become one of the game’s greats. Currently, he has Igor Shesterkin on a similar path.
