New York Rangers: What Ruff’s return means for the rest of Quinn’s staff
Lindy Ruff will be a part of the New York Rangers organization for another season. His presence should allow David Quinn freedom with the rest of his coaching staff.
The most recent news surrounding the New York Rangers involves their coaching staff. Following the signing of David Quinn as head coach, the focus was put squarely on the development of young talent. Nonetheless, reports indicate that Lindy Ruff will remain with Quinn during his first season on the job.
There was a sense of worry in the idea that Ruff could become a candidate to take over as the Rangers’ head bench boss. However, as an assistant under a new regime, Ruff could become a useful tool for the rebuilding franchise.
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Structure
One of the first things that David Quinn made clear was the accountability he expects out of his roster. Players on Quinn’s team earn their minutes with strong play. Often times bigger names may find themselves falling behind the pack if their production does not meet expectations.
As a first time NHL head coach, Quinn will likely consult with elder coaches and executives for various decision-making. If used correctly, Ruff has the experience at the world’s highest level, with 19 years and 1493 games as a head coach.
However, there is the looming likelihood that Ruff continues working as the defensive assistant. Last season, the Rangers’ defense was among the worst in the league. Some poor roster construction and questionable lineups may have given few options, but poor coaching must be evaluated as well.
The Rangers’ defensive is young and unproven, and lineup decisions will ultimately be left to Quinn. If Quinn makes his system clear to Ruff and his players, Ruff’s presence could be negligible altogether.
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Developmental staff
Inside the pipeline of potential coaching mates alongside Quinn and Ruff is a list of prominent ex-players as well as up-and-coming hockey minds. Among the most prominent options circulating are Scott Stevens, Martin St. Louis, and Rick Bowness.
Bowness, a former assistant coach down in Tampa with the Lightning is the most seasoned of the group. He holds the record for most games coached in the NHL with over 2300 games to his record. His specialty with the Bolts is similar to that of Ruff’s, coaching the defense and penalty kill.
If Bowness is brought on, Ruff could be delegated to a different role that would limit his on-ice effect to the roster.
On the other hand, the sentimental value of bringing in legends such as Stevens and St. Louis offers a completely different perspective. Each of the ex-NHL players is students of the game, which helped them excel late into their careers. Bringing in one of these two would give the Rangers’ locker room a more balanced, player-centric approach.
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In short, there is plenty left to be determined with David Quinn’s coaching staff. Bringing back Lindy Ruff certainly raises question marks of fit in the new system. However, much like the state of the rebuild, Quinn’s coaching staff is a process that needs time to succeed.