GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) After firing coach Alain Vigneault, the New York Rangers have also dismissed two of his top assistants.
Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton said Monday that associate coach Scott Arniel and Darryl Williams were let go the previous day. Gorton said Lindy Ruff is still on staff and intends to speak with him before deciding on his future.
Gorton said the decision to fire Vigneault was made in the last week of the season. The announcement Saturday night came hours after a 5-0 loss at Philadelphia in the season finale.
The Rangers went 226-147-37 in five years under Vigneault. They made the playoffs four times, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in his initial season in 2014. This season, they finished last in the Metropolitan Division, missing the postseason for the first time since 2010.
''AV has been a terrific coach in the league, he's been a really good coach for the Rangers,'' Gorton said. ''After five years we just think it's time for a change. The players need a new voice and the organization needs a new coach.''
Gorton expects to interview five to 10 candidates.
''We'll look anywhere, whether it's AHL, NHL, wherever we can find the best possible coach going forward,'' he said. ''We're looking for somebody who can help us get back to an identity we want to get back to. We're looking to go through this process and hear some ideas from some people.''
