Category: 2021 Rangers Coaching Search

The Blue Jackets have announced that Brad Larsen will replace John Tortorella as head coach.

Larsen was an assistant to Tortorella in Columbus.

The Blue Jackets spoke with Gerard Gallant and Rick Tocchet twice and are believed to have also interviewed former Rangers coach David Quinn.

The Rangers, Sabres, Seattle, and Coyotes are still without coaches.

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.”

6/4/21 | On the 31 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman said of Tocchet “I think he’s going to be a candidate in a few places, he’s had a second interview with the Rangers, Seattle and a second interview with Columbus. I think it just shows that Tocchet has a great reputation, people really respect him, like him, he’s going to end up somewhere. I’m curious to see what happens with Gallant when Team Canada gets back, it seems like Tocchet and Gallant are very serious in New York, we will see where it goes, but Tocchet has a hugely positive reputation around the league. He’s a guy a lot of people have a lot of time for.”

6/4/21 | Darren Dreger said on Buffalo radio of Tocchet “it feels like he is jumping from one airplane to another. He’s interviewed a couple of times with the New York Rangers, so has Gerard Gallant, who is coaching Team Canada, at least twice with the Rangers and I’m sure Buffalo is circling back on these guys as well.