We’ve read this story before.
Although New York Rangers’ head coach Alain Vigneault is regarded as one of the preeminent hockey minds in the sport, his stubbornness occasionally gets in the way of his ability to pick personnel.
Since former GM Glen Sather granted control of head coaching operations of the Blueshirts to Vigneault back in 2013, we’ve seen Vigneault’s inflexibility expose itself on multiple occasions. In his second year in charge, it was Tanner Glass who was regularly penciled into the lineup despite disappointing in both ends of the ice.
Last year, it was 2010 first round selection Dylan McIlrath who was the odd man out, as the 6-foot-5 righty only appeared in 34 just games.