The New York Rangers are making more modifications to their coaching staff after parting ways with head coach Gerard Gallant, says The New York Post’s Larry Brooks. The Rangers are expected to relieve assistants Mike Kelly and Jim Midgley of their duties, while assistant Gord Murphy will remain on staff pending the determination of their next head coach.
This latest move comes after the Rangers finished the 2022-23 season by losing their First Round series against the New Jersey Devils in seven games despite holding a 2-0 lead in the series. The decision to part ways with Gallant came as a surprise to many, as he had been with the team for two successful regular seasons, but multiple reports later said exit interviews with Rangers players weren’t kind to Gallant.
The Rangers will now make some deeper structural changes behind the bench as they look to revamp their coaching staff. Kelly, who worked with Gallant during his times with the Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights, heads to the open market with 10 years of experience as an NHL assistant. Midgley, 45, had been with the Rangers since Gallant’s hiring in 2021 but has no previous NHL coaching experience.
Murphy, who also spent the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons as an associate coach with the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, remains in the fold for now.
Mess ,Roy or Babcock
That’s a horrible list of candidates.
Sheldon Keefe will be available at the end of the week
Knoblach
Chunky?
Chucky?
Seems like all these players hate playing for coaches. Sutter and now Gallant
Torts has a bad rep.
Maybe. Just maybe. The players are a bit to blame? Like take accountability for your own play?
All these guys are retreds. I wanted Joel Q but not looking like he is in mix. Drury should fire himself. Kane was terrible damaged goods, so was Vlad T. He got Motte a 4th liner who played decent. Not sure even with the right coach we are better than Devils, Florida, Carolina.
Q would be the right answer for what they need right now. Motte was a solid acquisition and is perfect for the 4th line with Goodrow and V. As for his other acquisitions, they just didn’t blend in and their age showed. Rangers aren’t that slow, but they are. Othmann, Garand, and Jones should be up next year with LaF on a bridge and Miller signed. Kid line needs to move up a level – 2nd line, and perhaps even first so the older guys are fresher since the kids are faster.
The player that has disappointed me the most is Panarin. He’s disappeared, has played with hesitation, and while he reduced his turnovers this year, he still turns the puck over more than he should. If there’s a way to get him to agree to waive his no trade, and a team looking to acquire a proven, yet expensive LW, the Rangers should look into it. Get a RW back in return if possible.
Al apparently isn’t aware that nobody wants to play for Babcock, And Messier has zero experience.
BENOIT GROULX is a name that could be possible…