None of us truly endorses the concept of recycling coaches. Everyone wants someone fresh. Every organization wants to find its own Jon Cooper or Rod Brind’Amour. Every franchise craves stability.
But take a look at conference finalist Dallas, on its fourth coach within five seasons. Take a look at conference finalist Vegas, on its third coach within three years. Take a look at conference finalist Florida, on its fourth coach in four years, albeit with one change enforced by the NHL.
There is Pete DeBoer behind the Stars bench after he was in Vegas for three-plus seasons after he was in San Jose for four-plus seasons after he had been in New Jersey for three-plus seasons after he had been in Florida for three years.
Which is to say that Gerard Gallant is hardly the only NHL head coach without staying power.
Chris Drury, the president-general manager of the Rangers, is embarking on his second coaching search in three years after the no-fault divorce from Gallant after 110- and 107-point seasons. It is not hyperbole to suggest that his next hire could be his last hire if things go south in a hurry.
Not everyone gets to hire five coaches in his first six years as a GM the way Lou Lamoriello did when he first took over the Devils in 1987-88.
Drury needs to go with his gut here. He needs a coach who has the technical ability to help this veteran team take the next step in the playoffs when matching and strategic adjustments become paramount while treating the players in the same empowering and professional manner that marked Gallant’s tenure. Our understanding is that players were asking for help during exit interviews.
The Rangers most certainly do not need an autocratic disciplinarian. They do not need someone as mean-spirited and dictatorial as Mike Babcock within miles of this franchise. His players in Detroit generally despised him. He had serious issues in Toronto, both in interpersonal relationships and game management.
There would be throw-up in the mouth if this individual is hired to coach the Rangers and not only in mine.
Hartford coach Kris Knoblauch merits an interview, but there is no sense that he is a leading contender. We can muse about Patrick Roy, who would be a columnist’s dream to cover, but that would be an extremely unlikely hire at this point. Jack Capuano, certainly a competent coach with some history with Drury, may be on the list of candidates.
Seattle’s elimination by Dallas in Monday’s Game 7 of the second round gives Drury the opportunity to seek permission and speak to Kraken assistant coach Jay Leach, who will undoubtedly be the subject of interest from multiple teams with vacancies.
The 43-year-old Leach, a Syracuse native, was a marginal NHL defenseman who played a career 70 games for five teams, including 31 with the Devils over two terms. He’s been an NHL assistant coach for two years following four years as head coach for the AHL Providence Bruins. Sources vouch for Leach’s strategic ability as well as his ability to communicate.
The question is whether Drury will bond with Leach. The question is whether Drury has enough confidence in his gut to hire a first-time NHL coach to take over a club that is expected to compete for the Cup. The question is whether Leach is ready for the crucible.
If not, the success of the recyclables behind the Florida, Vegas and Dallas benches do lend a certain shine to the candidacy of Peter Laviolette, who is most certainly not a fresh face or a sexy hire (no offense, Peter) but has proven to be an eminently capable NHL head coach.
If we are talking about achieving instant success — and is there anything more important to the Rangers at this juncture? — then Drury would have to consider the fact that:
A) Laviolette took the Islanders to the playoffs in his first season behind an NHL bench in 2001-02 after the team had missed seven straight seasons; B) Laviolette won the Stanley Cup with Carolina in his first full year with the ‘Canes in 2005-06; C) Laviolette took Philadelphia to the Cup final after being hired 25 games into the 2009-10 season; D) Laviolette took Nashville to the Cup final in his third season as coach in 2016-17.
Again, there is a yearning for the next Jon Cooper, a yearning for the next Rod Brind’Amour. Leach might be that. But if not, and if not now for the Rangers, then a recyclable might be the next best thing.