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New York Rangers: 4 midseason coaching changes that led teams to Cups

By John Williams

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks on against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena on December 21, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins looks on against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena on December 21, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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NEWARK, NJ – APRIL 06: (L-R) Coaches Larry Robinson, Brent Sutter and John MacLean of the New Jersey Devils give last minute instructions to their team in the final regular season game against the New York Rangers at the Prudential Center April 6, 2008 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils beat the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ – APRIL 06: (L-R) Coaches Larry Robinson, Brent Sutter and John MacLean of the New Jersey Devils give last minute instructions to their team in the final regular season game against the New York Rangers at the Prudential Center April 6, 2008 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils beat the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

1999-2000 New Jersey Devils

The Devils were about to finish their season when GM Lou Lamoriello fired head coach Robbie Ftorek with eight games remaining in the season. A move like this is unheard of, especially for a team in the thick of a playoff race.

Under new coach Larry Robinson, the Devils finished the season 4-4 and marched into the playoffs with a 45-24-8-5 record, good for fourth in the Eastern Conference.

The Devils went on to have a magical playoff run in which they won their second Stanley Cup in four seasons. On the road to the Cup, they knocked off the Eastern Conference Champion Philadelphia Flyers and the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Dallas Stars. The Devils would win one more Cup in 2002-2003, this time under Pat Burns.

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