Is New York Rangers head coach David Quinn a stepping stone?

New York Rangers’ fans still iffy on David Quinn

When the New York Rangers hired Boston University’s head coach, David Quinn, to lead the young Rangers squad back in May 2018, it was done so with the idea that Quinn would be able to develop the up-and-coming talent that the Rangers roster boasted.

It appears as if Rangers’ fans faith in David Quinn leading us to the promise land is fading season by season.  Is Quinn to blame for the letdown that was Lias Andersson? And while Kaapo Kakko didn’t have a terrible rookie season, one has to stop and wonder, would he have been better if Quinn didn’t bury him in the third and fourth lines all year long? Blue Line Station’s own Alex Csedrik, wrote an indepth article on David Quinn’s achievements and failures over the last two seasons.

Will Quinn be the coach that leads us to a Stanley Cup?

For those of you who are familiar with the New York sports landscape, does Kenny Atkinson ring a bell? The former Brooklyn Nets head coach was fired in a shocking mid-season move last year, after he led the NBA team to a playoff appearance the year prior.  Rumors around the league were that the Nets were a team that was considered to be a contender, and Atkinson was only brought in as a developmental coach Brooklyn’s rebuilding years.

Could David Quinn suffer the same fate? The difference between Atkinson and Quinn, though, is that Atkinson was praised by both the fans and his bosses for finishing the job that he was brought in to do; develop young talent.  The jury is still out on Quinn and as I stated in the first paragraph, a lot of Rangers’ fans are losing faith in the head coach.

Even if Quinn can successfully develop guys like Adam Fox, Igor Shesterkin, Kaapo Kakko, Alexis Lafrenière, and countless other young prospects, will he be canned once the job is done? Or will Jeff Gorton and John Davidson let him have a go at winning Lord Stanley’s Cup in New York?

Quinn’s collegiate and IIHF track record suggests he is cut out for the job

David Quinn did a fantastic job during his time as the Boston University Terriers’ head coach.  In five season with the Terriers, Quinn posted a 105-69-21 record, making the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four in 2015.  Over the course of his coaching career, Quinn was a developmental coach for USA Hockey, as well as other various coaching jobs throughout the AHL and college.  As head coach at BU, Quinn has had the privilege of coaching and helping develop 14 current NHL players with some prominent names include Brady Tkachuk, Charlie McAvoy, Clayton Keller and most notably, NHL superstar and Buffalo Sabres center, Jack Eichel.

It is worth noting that Quinn has three more years on his five year, $12,000,000 contract with the Rangers, making him one of the highest paid head coaches in the league.  So what do you think, Rangerstown? Do you think David Quinn is capable of being a Stanley Cup winning head coach? Or do you think his days on Broadway are numbered? Let me know in the comments below.