Brassard's candid discussion of coaching challenge backfires
New York Rangers center Derick Brassard had a spectacular night Tuesday, recording five points and a hat trick to help the Rangers to a 7-3 win in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. Brassard told reporters his big night was especially timely considering he had a meeting earlier that day with coach Alain Vigneault in which Brassard said Vigneault challenged him to do more. But Brassard's candid retelling of the day's events did not leave his coach pleased.
"I would always prefer that those conversations stay between a player and a coach," Vigneault told reporters. "Sometimes players get a little excited after a big win and they want to share things."
Hockey teams tend to be tight-lipped during the playoffs, mostly in regards to injuries, but it is interesting for Vigneault to want to keep meetings with players out of the public eye. After all, whatever Vigneault said in the meeting clearly motivated Brassard well enough to help the team advance to a decisive Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday.
(h/t New York Post)
Photo credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
