Alain Vigneault is a fourth of a way through his fifth season as head coach of the New York Rangers. The Rangers are 202-117 during his tenure as head coach, but he has made head-scratching decisions along the way.
Alain Vigneault’s time with the Rangers has been extremely successful during the regular season. The Rangers have made the playoffs each season he’s led the team, a pattern that should continue this year. There is no doubt that Vigneault is a solid NHL coach, his resume speaks for itself: Three president’s trophies, a Jack Adams award, and two Stanley Cup Final appearances.
The veteran head coach has come close to winning a Stanley Cup in New York. The teams have had considerable depth from top to bottom while in New York. Since that first season in New York, Vigneault has made some strange lineup decisions that need to be approached from a different point of view.
Some of Vigneault’s lineup choices make it seem like he doesn’t understand talent evaluation. Skill players buried on the fourth line, multiple offensively capable defenseman playing eight minutes a game on the third pair, veterans getting preferential treatment to rookies.