New York Rangers Alain Vigneault has been lauded for his technical innovations as a hockey coach. From his extreme zone-start deployment schemes, to his expert manipulation of the matchup game - Vigneault's clubs appear to approach hockey with an intellectual rigor that can seem vaguely scientific.
Let this, then, serve as a reminder that Vigneault is still a hockey coach and not a scientist:
Vigneault on Brassard: "He woke up this morning and got the mumps." #NYR
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) December 15, 2014
That's not really how it works.
Vigneault also proposed another explanation for how Derick Brassard contracted the mumps, going so far as to suggest that Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby - who was also diagnosed with the mumps on Sunday - was Brassard's personal patient zero:
AV on Brassard: "Maybe it’s because we played against Pittsburgh on Monday and he goes head-to-head against Sid. Maybe Sid gave it to ‘em."
— Pat Leonard (@PLeonardNYDN) December 15, 2014
Will Crosby be hearing from the NHL's Department of Player Safety for his use, albeit unintentional, of biological warfare on an opponent? Nope, obviously not, but we felt it necessary to cheekily make the suggestion.
