While it’s more common to analyze the players, it’s time to take a moment to analyze the coaching of Alain Vigneault. Here’s the top five things he needs to fix for the New York Rangers this upcoming season.
It’s no secret. The coaching style of Alain Vigneault has been heavily criticized over the past two seasons, namely last year. There was the embarrassingly early exit to the Penguins in 2016 and last season, there was a golden opportunity for an Eastern Conference Final that the New York Rangers blew.
While there are many reasons why teams don’t succeed, it is normal to firstly look at the players. Did they live up to their potential? Did they simply have a bad night?
However, it’s not the job of the players alone to get the job done. The coaches are equally to blame for bad nights and equally to be praised for good nights.
One could argue that the players must execute what the coach tells them to, and if they don’t, then they suffer the consequences. But sometimes, it’s the coach himself that is to blame for the lack of production and not the follow-through of the players.
Here are five things Vigneault needs to fix heading into the new season.