What happened on July 12 in the history of the New York Rangers
On this date in 2000, the New York Rangers hired a new coach, Ron Low, former head coach of the Edmonton Oilers. He was the first coach hired by Glen Sather who had taken over as general manager of the Rangers at the end of the regular season.
Low had been head coach of the Oilers under Sather but quite in a salary dispute, so this was a reunion of sorts. He replaced John Muckler who had been fired along with GM Neil Smith with four games left in the season.
Muckler had also been an Oilers coach in the early 1990s, but the hiring of Sather brought an influx of personnel with an Edmonton connection. There were reports that Sather had tried to hire Kevin Lowe and Craig MacTavish, both former Oilers, but turned to Low.
At the press conference introducing Low he anounced that he was bringing Ted Green and Walt Kyle as his assistant coaches. Both had been assistants for Low with the Oilers.
While the hiring was big news, it was about to be overshadowed by the news that Mark Messier was returning to the Rangers after an ill advised three year stint with the Vancouver Canucks.
As for Low, the former goalie lasted two seasons in New York, fired after missing the playoffs both seasons and posting a losing record. He was replaced by Bryan Trottier who had the distinction of not having any Edmonton connection before he came to the Rangers.
Today’s birthdays
22 NHL players have been born on July 12 including two former Blueshirts.
Dan Boyle was born on this date in 1976 in Ottawa, Ontario. He spent the first nine years of his career in Florida, playing for the Panthers and Lightning, winning a Stanley Cup with Tampa. Traded to the San Jose Sharks, he played there six years before signing as a free agent with the Rangers in 2014. Signed to replace departed blueliner Anton Stralman, he played in New York for two seasons, but at 38 years old, his best days were behind him.
Brandon Segal was a right winger, born on this date in 1983 in Richmond, British Columbia. He played 103 games in the NHL for Dallas, Tampa and New York, playing his last game in the NHL with the Rangers, his only appearance with the team. His entire Ranger career lasted 5:21 and he took one two minute penalty. The 29 year old retired after that season.