6/25/19 | The Rangers hired former NHLer Tuomo Ruutu as their European development coach and may hire a defenseman as well to be a development coach, according to Larry Brooks. (NY Post)
6/13/19 | Tanner Glass will reportedly join the Rangers in a player development role after announcing his retirement.
6/7/19 | John Davidson said that the Rangers are putting “a lot” into development and building up a prospects “Ranger bloodlines” from when they are drafted to when they get to New York. (NY Post)
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Davidson told Larry Brooks that the Rangers are going to have three development coaches including one based in Europe. (NY Post)
He noted that the Rangers are going to cooperate with the teams of the players involved, “we’re not going rogue as independent contractors,” but that the development coaches and staff will be a “constant presence” around the players. (NY Post)
The Columbus Blue Jackets 2018-19 media guide lists:
- Development Coaches: Gregory Campbell, Chris Clark
- European Development Coach: Jarkko Ruutu
- Goaltending Development Coach: Jim Corsi
- Assistant Development Coach: Jared Boll
They also had a European Prospects Strength & Conditioning Coach as well as a Skating Consultant.
The media guide says that in his role, Clark, who played in 607 NHL games, “works with young players throughout the organization, assisting with the development of prospects playing in the professional minor leagues, various major junior leagues and college hockey.”
Campbell’s, the son of former Rangers coach Colin Campbell and a veteran of 803 career games, role is described as working with “young players throughout the
organization, assisting with the development of prospects playing in the professional minor leagues, including spending time throughout the season with the Cleveland Monsters, as well as various major junior leagues and college hockey.”
Ruutu’s, who played in 652 NHL games and put a big hit on then-Ranger Jaromir Jagr in 2006, role is described as working primarily “with young players throughout the organization, assisting in
the development of prospects playing in professional leagues and various major junior leagues across Europe.”
Corsi, a former goalie coach in the NHL works with goalie prospects throughout the Columbus system.
Columbus also brought in Marty St. Louis as a consultant during the season.
The Rangers current Director of Player Development is Jed Ortmeyer, a role that assistant GM Chris Drury previously held.
Ortmeyer’s role is described as, “with the hockey operations department, along with Adam Graves, overseeing the development of Rangers prospects, both on and off the ice … He also works with Rangers prospects who have yet to begin their professional hockey careers, as
well as players with the Rangers’ American Hockey League affiliate,the Hartford Wolf Pack, to further enhance their progression.”
The media guide says, “Graves works with the club’s hockey personnel to advance the development of key Rangers prospects, while also assisting in the development and execution of the organization’s many community outreach programs, as well as marketing and sponsorship initiatives. With a keen eye for talent, Graves has become an essential member of the hockey operations department. His ability to lend support and direction, both on and off the ice, has benefited many key prospects within the Rangers system. He is also involved in free agency signings and the NHL Draft with the Rangers, as well as the development of players with the Hartford Wolf Pack.”
Jeff Malcolm, a former Rangers minor leaguer, is listed as a Goaltending Consultant and his role is described as assisting “he assists in the on-ice and off-ice development of goaltenders throughout the Rangers organization, including goaltenders with the team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, and works with the Rangers front office in evaluating goaltenders at both the amateur level and professional level.”
Rangers assistant coach David Oliver was previously the Director of Player Development for the Colorado Avalanche.
Brian Leetch and Brad Richards are also part of the Hockey Operations department for the Rangers.
Adam Rotter: The are no shortage of former Rangers that can join the organization in player development but they already have two of the best possible people, Adam Graves and Jed Ortmeyer, leading the charge. It wouldn’t at all be a shock if Brian Leetch was more involved in player development and it will be interesting to see who the Rangers find to be the European Development coach. That is probably a position the Rangers should have had already with the amount of European prospects they usually have but it will be a nice addition as the Rangers use their resources to build and develop a winner.