Read: The Evgeni Malkin Contract Impacts Henrik Lundqvist
Last Week, the Penguins signed Evgeni Malkin to an eight-year contract that has a cap hit of $9.5 million per season starting in 2014-15.
Currently, Malkin has the second highest cap hit in the league ($8.7 million) behind Alex Ovechkin and he will continue to have the second highest cap hit when his new deal kicks in.
Larry Brooks tweeted last night that Malkin’s contract has “set the bar” for Henrik Lundqvist.
It has been suggested that Lundqvist could end up with the highest cap hit in the league with his new contract.
THIS SECTION is all about Henrik Lundqvist’s future.
Read: The Breath Of Fresh Air Coming To The Rangers
Chris Botta tweets “In Alain Vigneault, NYR hire a smart, driven, direct and classy coach who makes it all about the team.”
Katie Strang writes at ESPN NY that Vigneault is known as a strong communicator who is skilled at identifying the right roles for his players.
She notes that Vigneault will be a “breath of fresh air for a group of veterans that had grown weary of Tortorella’s stubborn, demanding style.”
Jeff Klein in the NY Times writes “he arrives like a fresh breeze from the Pacific Northwest after seven mostly successful years as coach of the Vancouver Canucks.’
Klein adds that Alain Vigneault is expected to bring with him a system that focuses on puck possession over forechecking, tolerate mistakes made by young players “instead of bench them at the first missed assignment, and be a good communicator with his players rather than insult them in public.
Buzz: Alain Vigneault Announcement May Not Come Today
The Rangers may not announce Alain Vigneault as coach today, according to Rick Carpiniello of The Journal News.
Early Monday morning, Larry Brooks wrote that the announcement may come sometime today, with an official press conference later this week.
Buzz: Ulf Samuelsson Could Become An Assistant Coach
According to Larry Brooks, in the NY Post, the Rangers have interest in bringing in former defenseman Ulf Samuelsson to join Alain Vigneault’s staff.
Samuelsson:
- played four seasons for the Rangers, 1995-1999
- was an assistant coach with the Wolf Pack, under Jim Schoenfeld, in 2005-06
- was an associate head coach for four seasons with Wayne Gretzky in Phoenix and one season with Dave Tippett in Phoenix.
- has been the head coach of MODO in the SEL for the past two seasons.
In 2011-12, MODO had 27 wins, 22 losses, 2 OT losses and 4 shootout losses.
In 2012-13, MODO was 26-19-5-5 and lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Brooks writes that it is unknown if Samuelsson, who reportedly inquired about the head coaching position, would be willing to leave the SEL and return to the NHL as an assistant/associate coach.
Note: The Rangers Will Spend The First Month Of The Season On The Road
According to Larry Brooks, in the NY Post, similar to how the schedule was laid out at the beginning of last season, the Rangers will spend the month of October on the road this season as the construction at Madison Square Garden finishes up.
Last year, before the lockout washed away the schedule, the Rangers were scheduled to play eight games on the road in the month of October before returning to MSG with their first home game on November 1.
The Rangers were going to start out west in LA, head to San Jose and then return east to play the Devils, Sabres, Lightning, Penguins, Hurricanes and Senators.
This is the final summer of construction at Madison Square Garden.
Note: The Rangers Could Announce Alain Vigneault Today/Have Press Conference Later In The Week
According to Larry Brooks, in the NY Post, the Rangers may make an official announcement today saying that Alain Vigneault will become the next head coach of the team.
Brooks notes that GM Glen Sather is still in California and flying directly into Boston on Wednesday for the NHL’s GM meetings that will precede game four of the Stanley Cup final.
A press conference could happen this Thursday but it won’t be held at MSG as the construction for this summer’s project has started.
Read: What Will Happen With Mike Sullivan and the Assistant Coaches?
6.17.13/ 4:06AM: In the NY Post, Larry Brooks writes that Jim Schoenfeld will not be an assistant coach, but will stay as assistant GM, Mike Sullivan will not be part of the organization and that Benoit Allaire will stay with the team.
Schoenfeld became an assistant coach when John Tortorella became head coach. Tortorella was an assistant coach for Schoenfeld when Schoenfeld was head coach in Phoenix.
6.16.13/ 9:14AM: At ESPN NY, Katie Strang writes that due to the relationship that Mike Sullivan has with former coach John Tortorella, it is unlikely that Sullivan will stay with the Rangers.
Sullivan joined the Rangers staff in 2009-10, the first full season that John Tortorella was head coach.
After Tortorella was let go in Tampa Bay, Sullivan was not brought back by new coach Barry Melrose, but once Melrose was fired the team asked him to return.
Jim Schoenfeld and Benoit Allaire are also assistant coaches.
6.16.13/3:13AM: Larry Brooks writes in the NY Post that Jim Schoenfeld isn’t likely to reprise his role as assistant coach but will stay as assistant GM. Sullivan isn’t likely to remain with the situation but Benoit Allaire “certainly will” return in those capacities.
Picture: The Princess Wearing Her Dad’s Shirt and Rangers Socks/In A Castle
via Hank on Instagram, with the captions “It’s hard to get people’s attention these days…
#DaddyI’mBusy and My daughter Charlise making plans for the weekend..
Lundqvist has his daughter’s name tattooed on his arm. She is almost one-year old.
Lundqvist posted another picture of his daughter, in a castle, with the caption “Happy Father’s Day.”
Read: Ryan Callahan’s Shoulder Is Feeling Better
Rangers captain Ryan Callahan told the team’s website this week that his shoulder is starting to feel better after he received surgery on it after the Rangers season ended.
Callahan hurt his shoulder in his fight against Max Talbot at the end of January.
He said that playing through an injuries is something that everyone does and if you can get out on the ice there are no excuses.
Callahan’s recovery time is expected to be 4-5 months and he may or not be ready for the start of training camp.
