NEW YORK, NY – Just when things things were looking up in The Garden and the Knicks were back in the playoffs with a young and exciting team, James Dolan decided he needed people to hate him more. This time though it wasn’t a bonehead move for the Knicks. No, this time he went after the Rangers and fired club legend John “JD” Davidson.
It was a rash move following the ugly episode with the Capitals’ Tom Wilson. Wilson exposed the lack of a backbone with the current roster when he manhandled the Blueshirts’ collection of twinkle-toed aesthetes. Toughness had been in steep decline in recent years on Broadway and Davidson and GM Jeff Gorton were made to pay for the broken plates. It was a harsh punishment for JD who was a Rangers great both on and off the ice. He took over the starting goaltending job from Ed Giacomin in 1975 and held down the job until injuries forced him to retire in 1983. After his playing career ended JD spent two decades as the Rangers’ color commentator. He left to join the front office of the St. Louis Blues in 2006 and then the Blue Jackets in 2012 before returning to NY as President in 2019.
He was unceremoniously kicked to the curb last week before the season ended after the rebuilding Rangers failed to make the playoffs. It was a move that even the slightest bit of tact from Dolan could have been understandable. Wait until the season is over and issue a statement that the Rangers and Davidson have decided to “part ways.” Don’t fire a club legend with three games left in the season. Rangers fans were decidedly ticked off. It seemed a return to the bad old days of Dolan lording over the team.
The house cleaning was completed after the last game of the season when David Quinn and most of his staff were relieved of their duties. Now the hunt is on for the next Head Coach. Gerard Gallant is the early front-runner in that regard. The Vegas Golden Knights granted the Rangers permission to speak to Gallant. Most people in the know think Gallant would be a good fit for the Blueshirts.
Another candidate could be Kris Knoblauch. The Hartford Wolfpack coach took over duties behind the Rangers bench when Quinn was out with COVID. Knoblauch led the Blueshirts to a 4-2 record in his six games in charge, impressing everyone. With Dolan back in a win-now mentality, it is unlikely that the Rangers will go with the inexperienced Knoblauch.
John Tortorella is another candidate after his time in Columbus came to an end this season. It’s doubtful that Torts would get another shot on Broadway and his style really doesn’t fit with the current crop of Rangers, but Dolan likes Tortorella so who knows what could happen.
It will be an interesting offseason fro the Rangers who need to find a coach that can balance a “win-now” mentality while still developing the young talent on the roster. Time will tell what happens.
