The New York Rangers have fired head coach Alain Vigneault after missing the playoffs for the first time in four years, according to TSN hockey insider Bob McKenzie:
Vigneault's five-year tenure with the Rangers ends after the team posted a 226-147-37 record, which included a trip to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final, a Metropolitan Division crown and the Presidents' Trophy in 2015.
But after the Rangers went just 34-39-9 and saw their seven-year playoff streak come to an end, it was obvious this team was ready for more changes. At the trade deadline, GM Jeff Gorton dealt away a number of key impact players - including captain Ryan McDonagh, future Hall of Famer Rick Nash, sniper J.T. Miller and speedy winger Michael Grabner.
Over the next few days, there will be more head coach firings, and job opportunities should open up for Vigneault. With 648 career wins and having also led the Vancouver Canucks to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2011, he'll be one of the most sought-after candidates in the coming weeks.
Other teams that could opt for a head coaching change include the Calgary Flames (Glen Gulutzan), Edmonton Oilers (Todd McLellan), New York Islanders (Doug Weight), Dallas Stars (Ken Hitchcock), among others.
Vigneault did a great job for the Rangers, instantly gaining the respect of his players after the team fired John Tortorella in 2013. Though Vigneault can only handle so much of the blame in what was a dismal season for the Rangers, this move was necessary for a team that's prepared for a rebuild.
All good things come to an end, and that obviously included Vigneault's tenure with the Rangers. The team fell short of winning a Stanley Cup championship, but Vigneault turned them into one of the NHL's top teams of the 2010s. Because of that, his tenure has to be considered a successful one.
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