List of New York Rangers head coaches

The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in Manhattan, New York. They are members of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the oldest teams in the NHL, having joined in 1926 as an expansion franchise, and are part of the group of teams referred to as the Original Six. The Rangers were the first NHL franchise in the United States to win the Stanley Cup,[1] which they have done four times (most recently in 1994).[2] The team is commonly referred to by its famous nickname, "The Broadway Blueshirts", or more commonly in New York media, as simply the "Blueshirts".[3]

Glen Sather coached the Rangers for 90 games between 2003 and 2004.

There have been thirty-seven head coaches for the Rangers, the first one being Lester Patrick, and the most recent and current coach being Peter Laviolette. Muzz Patrick, Alfred Pike, and Ron Smith are the only coaches who spent their entire careers with the Rangers and were not elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.[4][5][6][7] Bernie Geoffrion, Lynn Patrick, Emile Francis, Glen Sather, Craig Patrick, Roger Neilson, Herb Brooks, and Fred Shero have all been inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Lester Patrick, Frank Boucher, Colin Campbell, Neil Colville, Bill Cook, Phil Esposito, Doug Harvey, and Bryan Trottier have all coached the Rangers for their entire coaching careers and have been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Emile Francis has coached the most regular season games, 654, and the most playoff games, 75, in franchise history. Emile Francis also holds the franchise records in regular season wins, 342, and playoff wins, 34. Mike Keenan, the twenty-fifth head coach of the Rangers, amassed the best points percentage, .667, and regular season winning percentage, .619, having done so in a single, 84-game season. Keenan is also the only head coach to have coached the Rangers to a Presidents' Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same season.[23] Lester Patrick is the only head coach to have coached the Rangers to multiple Stanley Cups. Under head coach Peter Laviolette the Rangers set franchise records in wins (55) and points (114) in a single season, having set both records in the 2023–24 season.[24] The Jack Adams Award has never been awarded to the head coach of the New York Rangers.

# Number of coaches[A]
GC Games coached
W Wins
L Losses
T Ties (applicable until the 2003–04 NHL season)
OTL Overtime/shootout losses (shootouts applicable since the 2005–06 NHL season)
P% Points percentage
W% Winning percentage
* Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Spent entire professional head coaching career with the Rangers.
*† Elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame and spent entire professional head coaching career with the Rangers.

Coaches

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Lester Patrick, the first coach of the Rangers, coached the team his entire career and was inducted to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Note: Statistics are correct through the 2023–24 season.

# Name Term Regular season Playoffs Achievements Note
GC W L T OTL P% GC W L T
1 Lester Patrick*† 19261939 604 281 216 107 .554 65 31 26 8 Stanley Cup champions (1928, 1933) [16]
2 Frank Boucher*† 19391948 487 167 243 77 .422 27 13 14 0 Stanley Cup champions (1940) [17]
3 Lynn Patrick* 19481950 107 40 51 16 .449 12 7 5 0   [9]
4 Neil Colville*† 19501951 93 26 41 26 .419   [18]
5 Bill Cook*† 19511953 117 34 59 24 .393   [19]
Frank Boucher*† 1953–1954 40 14 20 6 .425   [17]
6 Muzz Patrick 19541955 100 32 46 22 .430   [4]
7 Phil Watson 19551959 295 119 124 52 .492 16 4 12   [25]
Muzz Patrick† 1959 2 0 1 1 .250   [4]
8 Alfred Pike 19591961 123 36 66 21 .378   [5]
9 Doug Harvey*† 1961–1962 70 26 32 12 .457 6 2 4   [21]
Muzz Patrick† 1962 34 11 19 4 .382   [4]
10 Red Sullivan 19621965 196 58 103 35 .385   [26]
11 Emile Francis* 19651968 194 82 82 30 .500 10 2 8   [10]
12 Bernie Geoffrion* 1968–1969 43 22 18 3 .547   [8]
Emile Francis* 19691973 343 201 88 54 .665 49 24 25   [10]
13 Larry Popein 1973–1974 41 18 14 9 .549   [27]
Emile Francis* 19741975 117 59 39 19 .585 16 8 8   [10]
14 Ron Stewart 1975–1976 39 15 20 4 .436   [28]
15 John Ferguson, Sr. 19761977 121 43 59 19 .434   [29]
16 Jean-Guy Talbot 1977–1978 80 30 37 13 .456 3 1 2   [30]
17 Fred Shero* 19781980 180 82 74 24 .522 27 15 12   [15]
18 Craig Patrick* 1980–1981 60 26 23 11 .525 14 7 7   [12]
19 Herb Brooks* 19811985 285 131 113 41 .532 24 12 12   [14]
Craig Patrick* 1985 35 11 22 2 .343 3 0 3   [12]
20 Ted Sator 19851986 99 41 48 10 .465 16 8 8   [31]
21 Tom Webster 1986–1987 16 5 7 4 .438   [32]
22 Phil Esposito*† 1987 43 24 19 0 .558 6 2 4   [20]
23 Michel Bergeron 19871989 158 73 67 18 .519   [33]
Phil Esposito*† 1989 2 0 2 0 .000 4 0 4   [20]
24 Roger Neilson* 19891993 280 141 104 35 .566 29 13 16 Presidents' Trophy (1992) [13]
25 Ron Smith 1993 44 15 22 7 .420   [6]
26 Mike Keenan 1993–1994 84 52 24 8 .667 23 16 7 Presidents' Trophy (1994)
Stanley Cup champions (1994)
[23]
27 Colin Campbell*† 19941998 269 118 108 43 .519 36 18 18   [7]
28 John Muckler 19982000 185 70 88 24 3 .451   [34]
29 John Tortorella 2000 4 0 3 1 .125   [35]
30 Ron Low 20002002 164 69 81 9 5 .463   [36]
31 Bryan Trottier*† 2002–2003 54 21 26 6 1 .454   [22]
32 Glen Sather* 20032004 90 33 39 11 7 .572   [11]
33 Tom Renney 20042009 327 164 117 46 .572 24 11 13   [37]
John Tortorella 20092013 315 171 115 29 .589 44 19 25   [35]
34 Alain Vigneault 20132018 410 226 147 37 .596 61 31 30 Presidents' Trophy (2015) [38]
35 David Quinn 20182021 208 96 87 25 .522 3 0 3   [39]
36 Gerard Gallant 20212023 164 99 46 19 .662 27 13 14   [40]
37 Peter Laviolette 2023–present 82 55 23 4 .695 16 10 6 Presidents' Trophy (2024) [24]

See also

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Notes

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  • A A running total of the number of coaches of the New York Rangers. Thus any coach who has two or more separate terms as head coach is only counted once.

References

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  1. ^ Anderson, Dave (May 14, 1995). "Sports of The Times; At Boston Garden, There's Much More Gold Than Green". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  2. ^ Vecsey, George (June 23, 1994). "Sports of The Times; Houston Finally Has an Edge". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  3. ^ Stein, Michael. "New York Rangers: The Baby Broadway Blueshirts". /bleacherreport.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2008. Retrieved September 7, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d "Muzz Patrick". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  5. ^ a b "Alf Pike". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  6. ^ a b "Ron Smith". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on July 13, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  7. ^ a b "Colin Campbell". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  8. ^ a b "Bernie Geoffrion". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  9. ^ a b "Lynn Patrick". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved July 18, 2008.
  10. ^ a b c d "Emile Francis". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  11. ^ a b "Glen Sather". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  12. ^ a b c "Craig Patrick". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on February 10, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  13. ^ a b "Roger Neilson". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on August 30, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  14. ^ a b "Herb Brooks". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  15. ^ a b "Fred Shero". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  16. ^ a b "Lester Patrick". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on May 24, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2008.
  17. ^ a b c "Frank Boucher". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2008.
  18. ^ a b "Neil Colville". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  19. ^ a b "Bill Cook". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  20. ^ a b c "Phil Esposito". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  21. ^ a b "Doug Harvey". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  22. ^ a b "Bryan Trottier". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  23. ^ a b "Mike Keenan". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on August 29, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  24. ^ a b "Peter Laviolette". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on October 13, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  25. ^ "Phil Watson". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  26. ^ "Red Sullivan". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  27. ^ "Larry Popein". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
  28. ^ "Ron Stewart". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  29. ^ "John Ferguson, Sr". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  30. ^ "Jean-Guy Talbot". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  31. ^ "Ted Sator". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on August 29, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  32. ^ "Tom Webster". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  33. ^ "Michel Bergeron". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on August 27, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  34. ^ "John Muckler". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  35. ^ a b "John Tortorella". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on May 13, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  36. ^ "Ron Low". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  37. ^ "Tom Renney". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  38. ^ "Alain Vigneault". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on August 27, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  39. ^ "David Quinn". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  40. ^ "Gerard Gallant". Hockey-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2021.