The Rangers added two European skaters to their fold while also seeing two potential coaching candidates go by the wayside. With the two signings, New York now has 48 contracts, but only 35 for beyond this season. As of now, no favorite appears to exist for the coaching job, which means that no coach will likely be in place by when the team’s organizational meetings commence May 7.
Rangers sign Michael Lindqvist:
Lindqvist, 23 years old and 5-11 and 176 pounds, scored 20 goals with 14 assists in 33 games this season for Farjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He drew interest from several NHL clubs this season, but opened to sigh with New York, swayed by the Swedish connections on the team. Of the 20 goals he scored, 10 came on the power-play goals, second-most in the SHL.
His 1.03 points per game ranked sixth in the league, and second among players 24 or younger. Among players his age, Lindqvist also ranked third in goals and fourth in points. Lindqvist had two goals and one assist in two playoff games for Farjestad, which he joined this season after seven years in the AIK organization at the youth and professional levels.
Lindqvist is expected to attend the team’s development camp and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in the Traverse City roster. His role this year is probably at Hartford. But he might get a chance to break camp with the team or earn a call up during the season. Lindqvist projects to be a third-line winger who could potentially notch 35-40 points in the future.
Rangers sign Ville Meskanen:
The 6-1, 190-pound Meskanen, 22, played for Ilves, of the Finnish Elite League in 2017-18, appearing in 48 games. He scored 24 goals, with 20 assists, for 44 points while picking up just four penalty minutes. Meskanen was the only player in the league to score 40 or more points with four or fewer penalty minutes. in addition, he led all players 22 years old and younger in goals and points during the season, and had 13 multi-point games.
Meskanen steadily moved up the ladder in the Finnish League, playing for Ilves under-16, -18 and -20 teams before joining the main club. He is another shoot-first forward, an area lacking in this team. Meskanen, who shoots right, adding another missing dimension to the organization,
The next stop for Meskanen will be the organization's development camp following the NHL Draft in late June. He, like Lindqvist, should play for New York in the Traverse City tournament. Meskanen is likely to start the season at Hartford, as he adapts to North American ice and style of play.
The Rangers coaching list was whittled down by two this week after seeing Bill Peters, who might have been of interest, go to Calgary last week. Jim Montgomery is heading to Dallas while David Quinn is expected to stay at Boston University. Each were rumored to be on the team’s short list with Montgomery likely ahead of Quinn, and to me, someone who would have been the right coach to lead this squad.
New York wants to reportedly bring in someone young and a teacher to development the talent currently on the team and what will be brought in via the draft, free agency or trade. Montgomery clearly was both. In addition, he played the game at the highest level, won a championship in college as a player and a coach and holds his team accountable, based on the seven criteria, known as the Process, each game. In addition, despite the rumors that he was loathe to use analytics, he apparently had softened in that view the past few seasons.
Quinn also would have been a fine choice. The knock on him is that he has a bit of a John Tortorella fiery streak, which might not have played well on a rebuilding team, though, as was mentioned in the blog comments, with a younger team that philosophy is easier to get across and implement. But if you can coach and win in college, maybe not to the extent that Montgomery has of late, then you can mold young men and develop talent. That latter aspect is also a mold knock because despite upper-tier talent, his team’s maybe didn’t always maximize their ability.
Jim Montgomery to Dallas:
Larry Brooks noted that GM Jeff Gorton did not attempt to entice Montgomery with an offer once the University of Denver coach indicated his preference for remaining in the Midwest. Now, Montgomery is in Denver, which is the Mountain time zone, not the Midwest. Dallas is south-central US, so really not the Midwest. If Gorton really wanted him, then he should have been aggressive and pursued Montgomery, not settling for the second or third option.
As Brooks added, in an ironic twist of fate, five years after Alain Vigneault chose the Rangers over the Stars when each team sought to hire him, Montgomery agreed to become the head coach in Dallas, where he will succeed Ken Hitchcock. I think most expected AV to end up in Dallas and Montgomery in New York. But it’s now Montgomery in Dallas with AV still learning for his next job and New York searching for a coach.
Montgomery will be the fourth coach to ever jump from the NCAA to the NHL, according to various outlets. The last to be hired out of the NCAA was Dave Hakstol. He had coached the University of North Dakota team for 11 years before being hired by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015. Ned Harkness was the first with Badger Bob Johnson having the most success. Not included in that list but who also jumped to the NHL from college after coaching the US Olympic Hockey team was Herb Brooks.
Montgomery, 48, wants seven things from his players each game, what he calls The Process:
1. 50 hits in a game
2. Win 60 percent of our faceoffs
3. Give up three or less odd man rushes
4. Commit to blocking shots
5. Win the special teams battle
6. Win the net front battle
7. Take zero undisciplined penalties
David Quinn reportedly staying at BU:
Quinn, named to coach the 2019 US World Junior team, remains in college. When that appointment was announced, the question was immediately raised if this takes him out of the coaching search because why would Team US name a coach who might be leaving. Quinn has yet to inform the Rangers of his decision. Maybe he is using this strategy as leverage to force an answer, but he could wait to see how the process pans out before formally announcing he no longer is a candidate, despite having told friends he is staying at BU.
With Montgomery and Quinn no longer available, who remains? Hence, the search continues. Garden executive CEO Jim Dolan has told The Post the Rangers are committed to hiring “a developmental coach,” and the club does have BU’s David Quinn and University of Minnesota Duluth’s Scott Sandelin on its list, but that requirement does not necessarily preclude hiring a veteran coach who may be currently under contract
The Rangers’ organizational meetings commence May 7. Though there is no timetable on the search, it would be helpful to have a coach in place while the management team evaluates the current personnel and plots its course for the future.
Larry Brooks provided the following info (augmented by me):
Sheldon Keefe of the Marlies is working in the second round of the AHL playoffs. Todd Nelson’s Grand Rapids team was just eliminated in the first round. Joe Sacco, former coach of the Avalanche, is working as an assistant with the Bruins. The Blueshirts would have interest in Columbus assistant Brad Shaw, but it is uncertain whether the Jackets would grant permission to talk to John Tortorella’s heir apparent. Also add in the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Scott Sandelin, who is reporter on its list. Scott Stevens has also been mentioned by Brooks, but it’s unclear if he is a candidate. Darryl Sutter hasn’t formally been named as a candidate, but he too could be on the team’s list while Lindy Ruff’s status remains unclear. It’s possible Dave Tippett and Dan Bylsma also are under consideration. (Blueshirt Banter mentioned Rand Pecknold, Quinnipiac’s coach, and he checks some of the boxes). Another name: Scott Gordon, the former Islanders coach whose Lehigh Valley Phantoms are in the second round after winning the AHL Atlantic Division.
Gordon has a history with Gorton, coaching Boston’s AHL Providence affiliate for four years while the current Rangers GM served as Boston’s assistant GM. Gordon was considered a rising star when hired by the Islanders in 2008, but lasted just over two years, going 64-94-23 without making the playoffs before he was replaced by Jack Capuano early in 2010-11.
If New York truly wants a young coach that can develop talent, why bring in a retread, despite that coach’s success elsewhere? The Rangers need a coach that will provide an identifty, currently lacking, to the team and organization. Of the list above, does anyone really stand out as a possible difference maker and face of the organization? Personally, I likely would go with Keefe, who has done an excellent job coaching the Markies but if Kyle Dubas gets the GM job in Toronto, he may be reluctant to allow Keefe to go elsewhere. Nelson, despite his lack of success in his brief coaching career in Edmonton, has proven in the minors that he an coach and would bring a fresh offensive mindset to the organization.
Montgomery was the one I wanted, and as noted above, if Gorton really wanted him, he should have offered the job and tried to change his mind. The longer this drags out, the more antsy we will get that the wrong coach will be brought in. One saving grace is that it still is a buyers’ market due to low number of coaching opportunities available. Don’t rush the process and do your due diligence but if you identify the right fit, grab him and don’t just wait to interview others.
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