New York Rangers: Is David Quinn actually a developmental coach?

Final Verdict

Ultimately, David Quinn has shown throughout his two years with the Rangers that he prioritizes winning over development. Is there anything wrong with that? No. Should winning come at the expense of the young players’ progress? Absolutely not.

Quinn’s reliance on veterans like Brendan Smith and Jesper Fast has hindered more talented youngsters like Kakko and Kravtsov. His seemingly bias against non-North American players has caused the Rangers to waste precious draft capital on picks that under him won’t get a fair shake.

And the Rangers’ improved record this season isn’t necessarily a reflection on Quinn as much as it is other factors. As Steve Paulus explains about the Hartford Wolf Pack:

"“One of the promises made by the New York Rangers was that as part of the rebuild, the team was going to revamp the organization on all levels. That meant scouting, player development and their top minor league affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. On the surface it looks like an unmitigated success, but when taking a deeper look there are reasons to be concerned.” – Steve Paulus"

The Rangers are in playoff contention this season because 1) they landed Artemi Panarin and 2) Igor Shesterkin has been playing at possibly an unsustainable level. He’s 10-2 with a .932 save percentage. This season, Alexandar Georgiev (17 wins, 14 losses, two overtime losses, and a .910 save percentage) and Henrik Lundqvist (10 wins, 12 losses, three overtime losses and a .905 save percentage) combined for a 27-26-5 record. Without Shesterkin even more than Panarin, the Rangers aren’t a playoff team.

So, can you really credit Quinn with the Rangers resurgence? Can you even call him a developmental coach? The answer to both is a resounding no.