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Grading the Rangers: The Assistant Coaches

May 15, 2016, 8:02 AM ET [83 Comments]
Jan Levine
New York Rangers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Blog parameters:

Each person covered will be given a rating. Factoring into that rating will of course be his performance but another input is going to be performance versus expectation coming into the season. Much of the background I likely covered in my tear down blogs, so don't expect massive chapter and verse but possibly some quick hitting information if not already covered in those blogs. In addition, to create some parameters, a player will have had to play 20 games to get a grade. Anything less means there isn't a representative sample for which to make a decision, so Brady Skjei and Marek Hrivik, to name two, will not get grades.

Here is where it gets really funky and interactive. I want you the reader to comment on the blog as to the rating. But not just hey I think you are right on or you are crazy but to provide your own rating and rationale for it. So if you agree with what I wrote, great, say that. But if the belief is the rating should be higher or lower, then you have to provide the rationale accordingly. Plus and minus grades are allowed to enable a broader opinion. Before the next blog, we will see if the blog comments consensus rating mirrors mine.

In addition, to shake it up, I will jump around a bit, so not all the players of the same rating are listed in a row, same with positions. So in the immortal words of Forrest Gump, you never know what you're going to get.

Covered in this blog: The Rangers Assistant Coaches

Larry Brooks wrote in today's NY Post: There has been no formal announcement, but it does appear the Blueshirts’ coaching staff will return intact, meaning (Alain) Vigneault aides Scott Arniel, Ulf Samuelsson, Darryl Williams, Benoit Allaire and Jerry Dineen will all be back for another tour of duty.

This is what I wrote in Part I of my post-mortem and tear down blogs.

The players' struggles also stretched to the coaching staff. The special teams were their own level of stink this year while the defense regressed dramatically, as the team never seemed to adjust to moving to a zone system from the man-to-man defense employed previously. In addition, the forwards appeared to not realize that picking up forwards coming down the slot was part of their jobs. Add in the constant chasing by two d-men to behind the net, leaving the forward in front wide open and it's no surprise how many more goals New York allowed and why Lundqvist might have been mildly worn out late in the season. New York was unable to adjust to what the opponents threw at them. Last, the blind loyalty to veterans at the expense of rookies and inability to maximize the talent of the players by finding the right combinations are major black marks against the coach.


While AV might be in trouble, it's clear that if he does remain, which I expect to happen, changes must be made. That could include system as well as adjustments to the coaching staff. Goaltending coach Benoit Allaire should be same and immune from whatever happens to the rest of the staff. Scott Arniel, who coaches the aforementioned special teams, and Ulf Samuelsson, who oversees the defense, might pay for the team's issues with their jobs. Jeff Beukeboom, the former Ranger who has gotten rave reviews for his work with the d-men at Hartford, could replace Ulfie if a change is made.


Williams and Dineen did most of their work behind the scenes, so it's hard to grade them. But their grade would be part of the overall coaches' grade. Let's start with Allaire. Lundqvist overall had another solid year while Raanta, after a horrific start, rebounded to become a reliable backup for Lundqvist. The goaltenders all seem to feel that Allaire is one of the best in the business, a feeling shared throughout the industry.

The Rangers special teams were less than special. The penalty kill went from sixth in the league last year in terms of success rate to 26th this year. Martin St. Louis' and Carl Hagelin's departures had an adverse affect on the penalty kill, which never was on strong footing during the year. That was even more evident on the rod, where NY was 28th in the league. The power play languished much of the league before finally getting hot the last 25 games of the season. Arniel and AV changed up the system slightly and finally put players in position to succeed but it took 50+ games to do so. In addition, the zone entries still were inconsistent, an issue that has existed since Arniel and AV came to town. Arniel has to take a lion share of the blame here.

Ulfie's charges were much better in 2014-15. Much of that was due to the decline by Girardi, Staal and Boyle. But the defensive system left a lot to be desired, as I noted above. In addition. AV's decision to sit Dylan McIlrath contributed to the D's poor play, impacting the view on Samuelsson. If you look at the blueline, the only player who really played above their expectations was McIlrath, as the aforementioned three didn't. Yandle was around what we expected while Klein was good early then faltered under the weight of additional responsibility due to the injuries and other struggles.

I have to admit that I am very surprised no changes are being made, especially since a review of everything was to be taking place in California. If you can't make the coaching accountable for their responsibilities, how do you expect to do so with the players?

Overall Grade: C (Allaire's grade of B+ helps bring up the overall grade, as Arniel and Samuelsson each get C- while Williams and Dineen both get incompletes since their work isn't front and center).

Players covered in prior blogs, My grade, Consensus Grade

Dan Girardi D+/C or C-
Derick Brassard, B/ B+
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