Reports: Alain Vigneault Reaches Agreement In Principle To Become Head Coach Of Rangers
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- According to multiple reports, former Vancouver Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault has agreed in principle to become head coach of the New York Rangers.
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Terms are still being finalized and the Rangers are yet to confirm these reports. The 52-year-old Vigneault interviewed with the Rangers on Tuesday in La Quinta, California and reportedly flew to New York to meet with Rangers' owner Jim Dolan on Friday.
Vigneault's Canucks were eliminated by the San Jose Sharks in a first-round sweep in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He led Vancouver to the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games.
Should Vigneault accept the position, he will be taking over from fiery former head coach John Tortorella, who was fired on May 29.
In Vancouver, Vigneault won the 2006-07 Jack Adams Award. His teams won back-to-back Presidents Trophies in 2010-11 and 2011-12. Vigneault won the Northwest Division in six of seven seasons as Canucks' head coach.
Should he become the next head coach of the Rangers, Vigneault would become the 35th head coach in franchise history and will have beaten out celebrated ex-Rangers captain Mark Messier for the position. There was a ground swelling of support from fans for the 1994 Stanley Cup-winning captain to replace Tortorella. Messier confirmed to reporters on Friday in Chicago that he interviewed for the open position earlier this week.
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