New York Rangers to hire David Quinn to replace Alain Vigneault as coach, report

Reports are indicating that the New York Rangers have found their new head coach, David Quinn, formerly of Boston University.

The New York Rangers have been in search of a head coach since the end of the season, terminating the services of Alain Vigneault at that point. Newsday, among other sources, is reporting that the team has found their man in David Quinn, the head coach at Boston University. Per Newsday:

"The deal is not official, only because Rangers GM Jeff Gorton is in Denmark at the World Championships, a person informed on the negotiations told Newsday, but the Rangers have made it clear to Quinn that he is their choice, and Quinn reportedly has informed BU that he plans on accepting the job."

So, subject to a team announcement, the search appears to be over. Quinn was going to remain in Boston but the Rangers have made him an offer he decided he can’t refuse. ESPN reports via Newsday that Quinn was offered five years, $12 million and he has decided to accept. He leaves behind a 105-67-21 record in Boston.

Quinn was a player, though he never found his way up to the NHL. He was actually in the Rangers organization for one year, playing 19 games for the Binghamton Rangers in the 1991-1992 season. He played in the IHL for the 1992-1993 season before ending his playing career. Unfortunately, a form of hemophilia among other illnesses cut Quinn’s career prematurely short.

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Despite what fans may think of him after this season, Quinn has big shoes to fill when replacing Vigneault. In five seasons with the team, “AV” led them to the playoffs four times. The Rangers did drop from 102 points the previous year to 77 points last season, causing a move to be made along with a rebuild.

In walks Quinn with a mix of mostly young players and a goalie whose window for a Stanley Cup is inevitably closing. We love him to death but Henrik Lundqvist is not getting any younger. He’s not done but he certainly see that other side of the mountain.

So, what about this move? Is this the right guy?

It is certainly an interesting move in that Quinn has no head coaching experience on the NHL level. His success has been great at Boston University, with multiple championships to his credit. But the NHL is completely different. That’s another level altogether.

This is New York. The Rangers have a history of making the playoffs nearly every season. Clearly it would have been smarter to hire a coach with some experience right? They needed someone who has been in the spotlight on the biggest of stages, right? He’ll get eaten alive in New York.

Well, maybe not.

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The Rangers have sent away many of their big-name veterans during this rebuild process. With three first round draft picks and more in other rounds, that is only the beginning. This team is going to be full of young players. Will they make acquisitions to speed things up? Quite possibly. However, the core of this team is set to be young.

Why not hire a coach that has spent his career working with younger players? David Quinn will have insights to today’s younger players that more experienced NHL coaches won’t have. He’s been there with them through the wars in college, recently. He knows what they are about.

Sure, there are unknowns with a new face. But this sets up with great potential for the Rangers. Quinn may just turn into a face that Rangers fans grow to love.

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