Rangers want coach 'who can develop players,' says Dolan

The New York Rangers made it clear prior to the 2018 trade deadline that they were entering a rebuild. In a statement released by the team, president Glen Sather and general manager Jeff Gorton expressed their intent to add "young, competitive players that combine speed, skill, and character."

After firing Alain Vigneault earlier in April, the Rangers are looking for a head coach who can help develop these young players.

"We're looking for someone who can develop players and develop a team," James Dolan, executive chairman of The Madison Square Garden Company, told the New York Post's Larry Brooks on Wednesday. "We want someone who is going to be able to work with young players - all of our players, really - so that they and we improve from one stage of the season to the next and we're better at the end of the year than at the beginning."

While Dolan appreciated Vigneault's work, he admitted he wasn't the right fit for the team.

"I think Alain was a great coach, but a great coach for a developed team," Dolan said. "Even though he probably didn't mean to, he sort of affirmed that himself when he talked after the last game about how he didn't have the players this year."

The Rangers, of course, were busy at the deadline, shipping out veterans Ryan McDonagh, Rick Nash, and Michael Grabner, among others.

"(Vigneault) was probably correct, but the next coach is going to have to be able to take the players we have, the young guys we have, and get them to the next level. I liked what I saw in the young guys and so did the staff," Dolan said.

"The guy we hire has to be a developmental coach, I can't stress that enough."

The Rangers already have a list of candidates in mind, and while the owner thinks NHL experience is valuable, in the end, he just wants "the best guy."

Based on Dolan's criteria, Todd Nelson, who has NHL head coaching experience with the Oilers and plenty of AHL success, would seem to be a nice fit. So too would Sheldon Keefe, who has done an impressive job developing young talent with the Maple Leafs' AHL club.

Regardless of who takes over behind the bench, the Rangers are well-equipped to right the ship sooner rather than later. They have seven picks in the first three rounds of the draft, and nearly $25 million in projected cap space, per Cap Friendly.

With some young building blocks already in place, such as Mika Zibanejad, Dolan believes the Blueshirts could be in line for a quick turnaround.

"We're committed to winning the Stanley Cup. I can't give a timetable, but I also think we can compete for a playoff spot next year and sneak into seventh or eighth place," he said. "We're rebuilding but it doesn't have to take forever."