New York Rangers: Five players Alain Vigneault helped push out of town

Dominic Moore

While younger players often fail to crack Vigneault’s lineup because he doesn’t trust them, older players can lose out too. One of the reasons the Rangers never ice quite as deep a lineup as they should is that Vigneault always has a few favorites he can’t leave in the press box.

Former Ranger Tanner Glass benefited  greatly from this favoritism. During the 15-16 season, Dominic Moore’s final year in New York, Vigneault’s refusal to sit Glass created friction on the fourth line.

The coach shuffled several players around early in 15-16, including Moore. Vigneault scratched Moore twice in November, leading to some terse quotes from the veteran.

"“I don’t really know how to answer that,” said Moore, who played all 82 last year for Alain Vigneault after having been a scratch twice the previous season in the coach’s first year behind the New York bench. “I try and focus on what I can control, and in that case, it’s me focusing on my game and challenging myself the way I always do,” No. 28 said. “I’ve always tried to improve every game regardless of the circumstances and be as good as I can be. “I know what I bring to the team.”"

Vigneault did not scratch Moore again, but the coach frequently moved him from his natural center to position to wing. Moore chose to leave in free agency in the summer of 2016.