Fansided

Rangers’ Alain Vigneault says he’ll ‘without a doubt’ return, is promptly fired

By Michelle Bruton

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 02: Head coach Alain Vigneault of the New York Rangers looks on during the game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 2, 2016 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 02: Head coach Alain Vigneault of the New York Rangers looks on during the game against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on February 2, 2016 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The New York Rangers have decided to part ways with head coach Alain Vigneault after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

Commence the rebuild, indeed.

On Saturday night, after being shut out by the Philadelphia Flyers 5-0, New York Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault gave a passionate defense of his coaching staff and system, and why he felt it would lead to the organization keeping him around.

In fact, Vigneault said he “without a doubt” expected to return as coach of the Rangers next season.

Hours later, he was relieved of his duties, as TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported:

According to Rick Carpiniello of The Athletic, Vigneault’s full comments when asked if he expected to be back were as follows:

"Yeah, yeah, without doubt. I think my staff is the right staff for this (rebuilding) job. This is just my opinion, but I think one of the strongest assets of this organization is its coaching staff and their experience. We’ve been able to do it with veteran players, we’ve been able to do it with younger players. Our development record … and our record, wins and losses, you know what? It’s pretty good with young and older players."

The Rangers went 34-39-9 this season and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Their season became so hopeless that by February general manager Jeff Gorton and president Glen Sather publicly declared their plans to, in slightly more eloquent words, tank.

Fans have embraced placing their angst about this franchise at Vigneault’s feet, but in truth, it’s more complicated than that. Vigneault, who had two years remaining on his contract, has 648 career victories to his name. At the very least, the Blueshirts know what they have in him.

But they’ve chosen to eschew that and embrace a total makeover, coach included — and that’s not a bad strategy. This team has been lacking fire since its appearance in the Eastern Conference finals in 2014-15, Vigneault’s second season with the club.

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If you’re going to build a new culture, it has to come from the top down. And this squad has looked lost all season, even before the tankfest began. Vigneault will have no problem landing another job in the league, but the Rangers will be better off for their choice to move on.

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