Report: Patrick Roy not an option for Rangers head coach
Patrick Roy may want to get back behind an NHL bench again, but it won’t be with the New York Rangers next season.
In a new report by the NY Post’s Mollie Walker, the Rangers will not interview Roy.
That means Peter Laviolette or John Hynes are the two most likely candidates to be named the Blueshirts’ new bench boss.
No Patrick Roy for Rangers
Roy, 57, just completed a magical run with the Quebec Remparts to win the Memorial Cup on Sunday night. Although he’s proven his coaching acumen in both the NHL and QMJHL, the way he departed the Colorado Avalanche may still not be sitting well with some. He re-signed in 2016 leaving the team scrambling for a replacement.
In 13 seasons behind the Remparts bench over 18 years, he’s amassed a record of 518-321-0 for a .617 winning percentage. Roy has also reached the postseason in 12 of those seasons. His NHL record is 130-92-24 with a Jack Adams Trophy in his rookie year as a head coach.
Now that Roy has been removed from the equation and with the Rangers desire for an experienced coach being their top priority, it’s likely either Laviolette or Hynes.
Let’s quickly look at each candidate.
Peter Laviolette (752-503-25-150)
The 58 year-old is still the front-runner to land the Rangers job in my opinion. He was fired by the Capitals after they missed the playoffs this season and is the safest bet because he’s the only Stanley Cup winning coach on the list (Carolina Hurricanes 2005-06). Mollie Walker of the NY Post also noted that Drury has a connection to Laviolette having played for him at the 2006 Olympics for Team USA.
John Hynes (284-254-63)
While Drury has a reportedly good relationship with the 48 year-old coach from their playing days at Boston University, I believe this is a hard sell to Rangers ownership. Hynes has a playoff coaching record of just 4-15 (.211 winning percentage) and that’s not something James Dolan is going to get excited about. Despite being known as an excellent mind for strategy, he’s never been able to win when it counts. He’s still one of the few experienced options out there, so that’s playing in his favor.
Multiple reports indicate that Laviolette is the most likely to be named head coach. He was in New York this past Friday for a second meeting.
It’s also plausible that Hynes could be brought in as an assistant to Laviolette.
Prior to the NY Post’s report, over 51% of Rangers fans voted for Roy as the team’s next head coach.
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