Reflecting on David Quinn’s time in New York as he returns to MSG

Quinn was often criticized for how he handled the rookie years of Kaapo Kakko(2nd overall pick, 2019) and Alexis Lafreniere(1st overall pick, 2020) by putting them on the fourth line, and it was something he addressed at his Sharks introductory press conference this Summer. “I think if you want people to be better, you have to be demanding but fair,” he continued. “When you have 18, 19-year-old players set in their ways, things that they’ve done to get to this point aren’t necessarily what they need to do to continue to succeed.”

That “tough love” approach has since maturely molded Kakko, who saw limited ice time under Quinn but is now thriving in a top-six role, and Lafreniere, who’s made adjustments to his game since his junior days, and it’s allowed him to transition smoothly to his offside by playing the right wing position giving the team more lineup flexibility.

New Sharks GM Mike Grier, who spent one season with the Rangers, defended Quinn’s decision.
“Some of the stuff that’s out there about the Rangers, I don’t think is fair,” Grier noted. “If he just started giving Kakko and Lafreniere first-line shifts without them earning it, the Kreider’s and Zibanejads of the world would not have been happy with him. I think he handled the situation with the young players as well as he could’ve.”

While fans were clamoring to see the two stars at the forefront with the team in rebuilding mode, Quinn took things slowly, and it undoubtedly took the pressure off them as they found their footing in a league where they were boys amongst men.
It undoubtedly helped the two mentally as they look poised to be critical contributors on a Rangers team with their eyes on the prize this season.