By Jordan Long
The New York Rangers have found their new Head Coach. New York had been searching for one ever since David Quinn was let go on May 12th. They hired Gerard Gallant.
Quinn coached the Rangers for the past 3 years. They were hoping he could be the coach to help New York to their first Stanley Cup championship since 1994. Unfortunately, the results weren’t there. Quinn went 96-87-25, a winning percentage of .522. The Rangers made one playoff appearance but it was the qualifying round in the NHL bubble in 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic. They were swept in the best of seven series by the Carolina Hurricanes.
This season they expected this team to earn a playoff spot. It didn’t happen. The Rangers finished 27-23-6 for 60 points, 11 points out of the final playoff spot in the East Division. The Rangers decided it was time to let Quinn go and look for a new Head Coach.
The Rangers wanted a coach who had NHL experience. There were a few out there who brought not only NHL experience, but playoff success too. Those included John Tortorella, Dan Bylsma, and Mike Babcock. Tortorella was passed because he had been the Head coach of the Rangers before. It was 4 games in 2000, and from 2009 to 2013. He had success as the Rangers Head Coach coaching them to a record of 171 wins, 118 losses, 1 tie, and 29 overtime losses. The Rangers went to the playoffs 4 times with him. Even though that is impressive, the Rangers decided to go with someone else.
Bylsma made a lot of sense. He would have brought 8 years of NHL Head Coaching knowledge to the franchise. His overall record is 320-190-55, a winning percentage of .615. His teams ended up in the postseason 6 times including a Stanley Cup championship with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009.
Babcock is the most seasoned with 17 years behind an NHL bench for the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, and Toronto Maple Leafs. His record is an impressive 700 wins, 418 losses, 19 ties, and 164 overtime losses. Babcock’s teams went to the postseason 14 times. He won a Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008. Babcock was the easy choice. He had success everywhere he went and would have done the same with the Rangers.
Instead, New York hired Gerard Gallant. Gallant brings in 9 years of NHL Head Coaching familiarity to the Rangers. He coached the Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, and Vegas Golden Knights. His overall record is 270 wins, 216 losses, 4 ties, and 51 overtime losses. His teams earned a playoff spot 3 times. That isn’t a great record.
The Rangers picked Gallant because he has been able to build a team. Gallant was the first coach in Vegas history. He helped them earn not only a playoff spot but advance to the Cup Final where they lost to the Washington Capitals in their first season in 2018. The Rangers hope he can do the same for them.
Gallant will have plenty of time to turn the Rangers into a playoff team. They gave Quinn 3 years and Gallant should expect the same. That ought to be more than enough time for him. Gallant has a tall task ahead of him. The Rangers haven’t advanced to the Stanley Cup Final since 2014. The Rangers hope he can be the person that will end the Stanley Cup title drought. They haven’t won it all since 1994. Hopefully, Gallant will be able to turn the Rangers into a consistent playoff team, and one who is a threat to win it all every year he is behind the bench.
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