New York Rangers Boot Camp: Coaching Staff

Way back in the early days of this offseason, the good people here at Blue Line Station began to write a series of articles called “New York Rangers Boot Camp” which focused on a specific area of the game that a specific group of players needed to work on during the offseason.

As I went to write my “Boot Camp” article on the coaching staff, Assistant Coach Ulf Samuelsson left the team to take a head coaching job with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL. Since there was a coaching void, I decided to hold off on this article until the team hired a new coach.

On July 1st, the Rangers got their man in Jeff Beukeboom. The former New York Rangers defenseman, who won the Stanley Cup with the team in 1994, had been an assistant coach for the Hartford Wolfpack since 2012. He was a huge factor in the development of Brady Skjei and Dylan McIlrath.

So with that said, the New York Rangers have their 2016-2017 coaching staff.

Head Coach: Alain Vigneault
Associate Coach: Scott Arniel
Assistant Coach: Jeff Beukeboom
Assistant Coach: Daryl Williams

Alain Vigneault

Let’s start with the biggest fish in the pond. After pushing all the right buttons in 2013-2014, Alain Vigneault didn’t push enough of the right ones again in 2014-2015. 2015-2015 came, and Vigneault hit every wrong button he could have possibly hit. Most of the decisions that hurt this team last season fall directly on AV’s shoulders due to his arrogance and belief in specific players whose performance did not justify any sort of belief or trust.

As far as roster decisions go, Vigneault showed he had no idea what the heck he was doing. Playing Jesper Fast in the top 6? Playing Kevin Hayes without consistent linemates and benching him in the playoffs for Tanner Glass? Tanner Glass still being on the team? And who could forget the Wonder Twins Dan Girardi and Marc Staal getting top 4 minutes, and sometimes, even more, minutes than Keith Yandle? Vigneault’s personnel decisions were horrible, to say the least, last season.

Scott Arniel

Scott Arniel’s duty is handling the forwards on the team as well as running the powerplay. While he has done a decent job in his time in New York with the forwards, the powerplay—despite having a few stretches where it was lethal—has been dreadful to watch. At times, I wish the team had the ability to decline a powerplay, because the only thing it did was give the other team momentum. The team’s 14th ranked penalty was the best mark they have had during Arniel’s tenor despite its futility (in 14-15 they ranked 21st, and 13-14 they ranked 15).

Main Area of Focus- Being Creative With the Powerplay

It will be a challenge for Arniel to improve his powerplay, personnel wise. As of right now, with the losses of puck moving defenseman Keith Yandle and Dan Boyle—who, for all the crap he gets was actually very good on the powerplay—the team will not really have a puck moving defender. In my opinion, and this may not be a very popular one, I say Vigneault and Arniel give Dylan McIlrath some powerplay time. I think McIlrath has a very powerful slap shot, which could make for a very dangerous secret weapon at the point. Even Nick Holden could be a sneaky good option on the second powerplay unit. One thing is for sure, Dan Girardi and Marc Staal CANNOT receive powerplay time.

Jeff Beukeboom

The first year NHL assistant coach wasn’t entirely sure what his role with the big club will be when he was asked by the media the day he was brought in. One would assume that since he is a former defenseman, has helped develop McIlrath and Skjei, and is filling the void of defensive coach Ulf Samuelsson, he will be taking over as the defensemen/penalty killing coach.

Main Area of Focus- Getting What You Can Out of Girardi and Staal

It appears that the New York Rangers will begin next season with both Dan Girardi and Marc Staal on their roster, assuming there are no trades made. Beukeboom’s biggest task in his first year behind the Rangers bench as a coach will be to get the most out of his declining defenseman. I have been saying all summer while I think the team should trade one of the two, I do believe they will both be better next season with a longer offseason to rest than they have experienced in 4 years.

I don’t think Marc Staal is as bad as people think he is. I think a potential pairing of Staal and Holden or Staal and McIlrath could be solid. Girardi needs to see sheltered, third pairing minutes with a quick skater, who I think should be Brady Skjei. While the penalty kill was horrendous last season, ranking 26th in the league, I think it will be better automatically with above average penalty killers Michael Grabner and Nathan Gerbe coming aboard. Couple that with taking Girardi off the penalty kill, not only does the penalty kill improve dramatically, but it will make the Rangers a whole lot more dangerous.

Daryl Williams

In Williams’ first season as the Rangers’ “eye in the sky,” as Alain Vigneault likes to allude to him, Williams saw a team get out skated game after game. It has never really been specified what Williams’ exact role is with the team, so me finding a way to improve his craft may be a little difficult.

Main Area of Focus-Find Out What Works and What Doesn’t

Since Williams is watching the game from the press box and not the bench, he has a completely different perspective from his vantage point. The Rangers were atrocious with their zone entry’s last season. Williams needs to study how other teams are defending their entrances, and report back to Alain Vigneault what he sees. He will also need to work closely with video coach Jerry Dineen to show the players exactly what he sees.

Next: New York Rangers Offseason Roundup

The season is still ways away, but it is never too early for the coaches to start making their game plans for the season. Hopefully, Alain Vigneault and his staff will learn from their mistakes they made last year and get this team back to the promised land.

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