6/9/21 | Darren Dreger was asked about Brind’Amour on TSN 1050 and said “there is a reason why the New York Rangers haven’t hired a coach, go down the list, maybe the Columbus Blue Jackets, I don’t think Brind’Amour would be a candidate in Buffalo because he wouldn’t go to Buffalo and with all due respect to the Sabres, maybe he isn’t interested in New York or Columbus, but I think the New York Rangers are waiting.”

“Yes, they have interest in Rick Tocchet, yes they love the fact that Gerard Gallant helped Team Canada to Gold and faced all that adversity, those are top candidates, but if Rod Brind’Amour were to pop loose, you don’t think the New York Rangers would swoop in and say they are interested, what’s it gonna take? The New York Rangers aren’t nickel and diming Rod Brind’Amour or his staff. I got all the time in the world for Rod, I really, truly do because I think the framework of the extension for Brind’Amour in Carolina has essentially been in place for weeks, but he is holding out because he wants his assistant coaches and training staff looked after and he’s not signing the paper and not agreeing to the extension until those guys get what they deserve.”

6/8/21 | Larry Brooks writes that while Gerard Gallant is still believed to be the leader to replace David Quinn, the Rangers are monitoring several playoff related situations. (NY Post)

Brooks notes that the Rangers are keeping tabs on Rod Brind’Amour’s status with Carolina, Paul Maurice’s situation in Winnipeg, Bruce Cassidy in Boston and possibly Jared Bednar in Colorado. (NY Post)

Brind’Amour, in the last year of his contact, is believed to only want to coach in Carolina and has been working toward a three-year extension. It’s also been reported that Brind’Amour has been trying to secure new contracts or his assistants and support staff.

Maurice and Winnipeg were swept by Montreal in the second round after sweeping Edmonton in the first round. Maurice has been the head coach in Winnipeg since January 2014 and is believed to have just finished the first year of a three-year extension he signed last year.

Cassidy and the Bruins are on the verge of being eliminated by the Islanders. He signed a multi-year contract at the start of last season and has coached the Bruins since February 2017.

Bednar’s contract runs through next season. He has been the Avs coach since 2016-17 and has a record of 184-149-39 in the regular season and 24-17, so far, in the playoffs. Brooks writes that it isn’t known if Bednar would be a candidate for the Rangers. (NY Post)

Adam Rotter: It’s not just that these coaches could/would be potential candidates for the Rangers, Gerard Gallant would 100% be a/the leading candidate for Winnipeg, Boston or Colorado. Right now the Rangers have the most appealing vacancy, but Colorado, and maybe Boston and Winnipeg being closer to winning, would jump the Rangers.

Maurice and Cassidy are probably both on par with Gallant as good regular season coaches that have lost a Stanley Cup Final. I’m not sure either would jump Gallant, like Mike Sullivan might have, but instead put all three on the same line.

Carolina is it’s own thing and it seems extremely unlikely that Brind’Amour goes anywhere, but if he does leave it’s thought that he will be on the first flight to Seattle. Bednar’s lack of deep playoff success, especially if they blow the 2-0 lead they had over Vegas, would seem to take him out of the running, but he has also overseen the Avs progression from the bottom of the standings to the top and the development of their core young players.

Like the wondering that came after the first round, none of these guys may become available. Boston and Colorado could both still advance and Winnipeg could point to injuries and Mark Scheifele’s suspension as to why they were swept by Montreal. Ultimately all it really does it keep things the way they are for another week or so. If no one else decides to make a change then I wouldn’t be shocked if Gallant is announced as head coach some time next week, but if teams do make changes both the Rangers and Gallant will have to decide which directions to go in.