Chris Drury Continues Rangers Coaching Carousel

David Quinn: The first exit in the Drury era

David Quinn walked into Madison Square Garden back in May 2018 with the weight of expectations crushing down on his shoulders. The Rangers picked him as their 35th head coach in franchise history, but he was the first victim of getting fired by Drury.

Why Quinn was hired and what went wrong

The Boston University connection made perfect sense for a rebuilding Rangers squad. They wanted a teacher, a developmental guy who could connect with younger players and help them grow. Quinn had already molded future NHL stars like Jack Eichel, Charlie McAvoy, and Clayton Keller at BU, so his resume spoke for itself. Rangers management fell in love with Quinn’s teaching ability from day one. His communication skills seemed tailor-made for their young roster, and the rebuilding philosophy matched Quinn’s coaching strengths perfectly. I mean, who better to develop raw talent than a successful college coach? James Dolan, never shy about making proclamations, heaped praise on Quinn when he arrived. The organization truly believed Quinn was the shepherd who’d guide their flock through the wilderness of rebuilding.

Quinn’s first season had its bright spots despite the inconsistent results. The Rangers showed flashes of what they could become under his guidance. By mid-season 2018-19, the switch from Alain Vigneault to Quinn appeared to be working out. But then the problems started piling up like rush hour traffic. The team bounced between winning streaks and losing skids throughout his three seasons. Quinn’s fiery, demanding approach worked at first but eventually grated on the players. The handling of top prospects became a real sore spot. Quinn caught serious heat for how he deployed Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafrenière. Both guys improved their defensive games, but their offensive production never reached what fans expected from such highly-touted draft picks.

Despite these challenges, Quinn still put together a decent 96-87-25 record over three seasons. And let’s not forget the absolute circus he had to deal with. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted two of his three seasons, turning everything upside down. Off the ice? Total chaos. Artemi Panarin took a leave of absence after allegations from Russia surfaced. Tony DeAngelo got into it with a teammate and got shipped out. The Quinn firing revealed the organization’s dramatic shift in priorities. Hired to develop young talent during a rebuild, he suddenly found himself judged by win-now standards.

How his firing set the tone for future changes

May 2021 brought the front office earthquake that changed everything. Jim Dolan, in typical Dolan fashion, abruptly fired team president John Davidson and GM Jeff Gorton. Chris Drury got promoted fast, taking both the president and GM roles. Quinn’s seat went from warm to scorching after this management shakeup. Multiple sources said Davidson and Gorton had actually planned to keep Quinn around for a fourth season. But Drury had other ideas, making his first big move by cleaning house. This decisive action established Drury’s management playbook. His willingness to make tough personnel changes became his calling card. The message? Development time is over, we want wins now. The Quinn firing established some clear precedents that would shape every coaching decision that followed:

1. Playoff expectations became non-negotiable
2. Player development alone wasn’t enough to keep your jobs
3. Personal relationships wouldn’t save you from the chopping block
4. Quick results were demanded, circumstances be damned

Ironically, the firing happened despite several players making real strides under Quinn. “Several players made positive strides on his watch, including breakout forwards in Mika Zibanejad, Pavel Buchnevich and Ryan Strome,” noted one analysis. The defensive corps especially flourished with Quinn at the helm. Adam Fox, K’Andre Miller, and Ryan Lindgren all developed into solid NHL defensemen. These successes make the decision even more telling about where the organization’s priorities truly lay. The Quinn dismissal also signaled a pivot toward experienced coaches. The Rangers’ next hire, Gerard Gallant, came with a Stanley Cup Final appearance and Jack Adams Award on his resume. This wasn’t just a new coach – it was a completely different approach. Quinn’s firing wasn’t just a personnel change – it was a philosophical change. The patient rebuild approach vanished overnight, replaced by win-now-or-else expectations.

After leaving New York, Quinn eventually landed with the San Jose Sharks in 2022. He’s still developing his coaching style with another rebuilding team. “Maybe all David Quinn needed was a full season behind the bench at Madison Square Garden,” suggested one observer. I think there’s truth to that – Quinn never got the chance to see his development plan through to completion. In many ways, Quinn was the victim of the Rangers’ identity crisis. Hired as a developmental coach during a rebuild, he ended up being judged by standards meant for a contending team. This fundamental mismatch doomed his tenure from the start.

The Quinn saga offers valuable lessons about organizational patience – or lack thereof. His firing kicked off the revolving door of coaches that’s become Drury’s trademark. And here we are today, watching the Rangers search for their fourth coach in five years. Some patterns are hard to break.

Gerard Gallant: A short-lived success

When Gerard Gallant took over the Rangers bench in June 2021, he brought something this team desperately needed – instant credibility. His resume was stacked with a Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach and a Stanley Cup Final appearance with the Vegas Golden Knights. Finally, the Rangers had a proven winner.

Initial impact and playoff run

Chris Drury wasted no time making Gallant his first coaching hire after grabbing the GM reins. The move was a clear signal – the developmental experiment with David Quinn was over. Where Quinn had been all about teaching and growing young talent, Gallant brought a player-friendly approach that veteran-heavy teams typically love. The Rangers front office practically sprinted to get him signed, attracted by his reputation as a motivational wizard. And man, did the results come fast. Gallant steered the Rangers to a remarkable 52-24-6 record in his first season. Their 110-point campaign was their best showing since 2015.

The performance was so impressive that Gallant earned a spot coaching the Atlantic Division All-Stars at the 2016 NHL All-Star Game. What happened next felt like something straight out of a hockey movie. The Rangers embarked on a playoff run that had Madison Square Garden rocking like the good old days. Down 3-1 to Pittsburgh in the first round? No problem. Artemi Panarin capped the incredible comeback with an overtime winner in Game 7 that blew the roof off the Garden.

The momentum just kept building against Carolina in the second round. The Hurricanes had won seven straight home games, but the Rangers didn’t care. They dominated Game 7 on the road with a statement 6-2 victory that silenced the PNC Arena crowd. This never-say-die attitude mirrored Gallant’s own coaching philosophy. Eventually, the Rangers reached the Eastern Conference Finals against the defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning. They even steamrolled Tampa 6-2 in the opening game and built a 2-0 series lead. The dream seemed possible. Then reality hit hard – four straight losses to the Lightning ended their magical run. Still, the season far exceeded what anyone expected. In just one year, Gallant had transformed the Rangers from rebuilding afterthought to legitimate contender. His .671 points percentage ranked among the best marks in franchise history. The honeymoon was sweet, but it did not last.

The 2023 collapse and locker room disconnect

The 2022-23 season started with similar promise. The Rangers piled up 107 points with a 47-22-13 record. Gallant made franchise history as the first coach to record back-to-back 100-point seasons in his first two years with the team. Everything seemed to be on track. Drury doubled down at the trade deadline, bringing in Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko – two Stanley Cup winners with elite offensive skills.

These additions had Rangers fans dreaming of a championship parade down the Canyon of Heroes. The first-round matchup against New Jersey started perfectly. The Rangers dominated the first two games and seemed to have the Devils on the ropes. But that commanding position unraveled faster than a cheap sweater. They dropped Game 3, then Game 4, and suddenly the series was tied. That’s when the real drama started. Reports surfaced of serious friction between Gallant and Drury following the Game 4 loss. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet and Arthur Staple of The Athletic both reported a heated argument between them. This tension wasn’t just a bump in the road – it was the beginning of the end.

The series kept slipping away. New Jersey fought back and forced a Game 7 at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers responded with their worst performance imaginable – a lifeless 4-0 loss on home ice. The embarrassing elimination completed one of the worst playoff collapses in recent memory.

Behind closed doors, things were falling apart. Some players had apparently tuned out Gallant’s message during the playoffs. The team looked completely disorganized, especially when trying to break out of their own zone or exit the defensive zone. “When only one defenseman can move the puck, and the others simply chip the puck off the glass, you spend 60% of the game in your defensive zone,” one analysis noted. This strategic deficiency exposed the limits of Gallant’s coaching approach – great at motivation, perhaps not so great at tactical adjustments. His lineup decisions only made matters worse. Gallant stubbornly refused to reunite line combinations that had shown chemistry earlier in the season. His reluctance to adjust player deployment frustrated both management and players alike. “That’s Gallant shooting himself in the foot,” remarked one observer about his lineup choices. These decisions played a major role in the team’s playoff implosion.

Drury’s reaction and decision to move on

When reporters asked about his job security after the elimination, Gallant came off as almost indignant. “I can’t believe I have to answer some of these questions about me getting fired,” he stated. He clearly believed his impressive regular-season record would shield him from dismissal. Drury, meanwhile, took a more methodical approach. He immediately began conducting exit interviews with players. Multiple sources indicated these conversations sealed Gallant’s fate. This mirrored what happened with John Tortorella years earlier – player feedback driving coaching changes. Just three days after defiantly defending his position, Gallant was out. The Rangers announced they had “mutually agreed to part ways” on May 6, 2023. The sudden reversal suggested things deteriorated rapidly once all the cards were on the table.

Drury kept it diplomatic in his statement: “After my evaluation of the season and discussions with Gerard, we mutually came to the conclusion that a change would be beneficial for both parties.” His careful wording barely concealed the deeper organizational issues at play. Gallant’s departure continued what’s become a disturbing pattern for Rangers coaches. Since 2009, four different coaches had been shown the door after relatively short stints. This coaching carousel has created an environment where stability feels like a foreign concept.

Despite the messy ending, Gallant’s overall record was undeniably impressive. He compiled a 99-46-19 mark over two seasons. His .662 points percentage stands as the best in franchise history among coaches who lasted at least 100 games. The guy clearly knew how to win regular season games.Looking back, Gallant’s brief tenure exposed the fundamental challenges facing this organization. The Rangers continue struggling to balance immediate playoff success with long-term player development. This tension has fueled the coaching instability that’s become Drury’s hallmark. “For good or bad, Rangers brass seems to have arrived in a place where the players hold significant sway when it comes to their coach’s future,” one analysis concluded. This player-driven dynamic continues shaping coaching decisions today, for better or worse.

Peter Laviolette: High hopes, quick fall

After burning through two coaches faster than a New York minute, Chris Drury turned to Peter Laviolette in June 2023. This wasn’t just any coaching hire – Laviolette brought his 2006 Stanley Cup ring from Carolina to Madison Square Garden. Finally, a proven winner with championship DNA.

Expectations after the Eastern Conference Final

Laviolette’s first season? Absolutely magical. The Rangers claimed their fourth Presidents’ Trophy with a franchise-record 55 wins. Their 114-point regular season had the NHL taking notice. The playoff run only added to the hype. They swept Washington like they were swatting flies in the first round, then handled Carolina in six games. They pushed all the way to the Eastern Conference Final before the eventual champion Florida Panthers ended their dream season. Drury looked like a genius after just one season. Laviolette made NHL history as the first coach ever to guide six different teams to the Stanley Cup playoffs. His track record suggested we might finally see some stability behind the Rangers bench.

Artemi Panarin put up a ridiculous 120 points, the second-highest total in Rangers history. Vincent Trocheck earned an All-Star nod with 77 points. Adam Fox continued to prove he’s elite, posting 73 points from the blue line. Between the pipes, everything looked solid too. Igor Shesterkin posted a 2.58 goals against average with four shutouts. Jonathan Quick provided reliable backup support with an 18-6-2 record. Heading into 2024-25, expectations weren’t just high – they were championship-or-bust. Laviolette’s history suggested his second season might be even better. After all, this guy had previously guided three different franchises to Stanley Cup Finals. The Rangers finally had their man… or so everyone thought.

Mid-season struggles and player regression

The Rangers hit the ground running with a 12-4-1 record through 17 games. Everything looked perfect – until it wasn’t. The Rangers lost 15 of 19 games from November 21 to December 30. Talk about a holiday nightmare. The roster turned into a revolving door during this stretch. Drury shipped captain Jacob Trouba to Anaheim on December 6. Kaapo Kakko followed him out the door to Seattle less than two weeks later. The locker room leadership vacuum was palpable. Offensively, they went from explosive to impotent. Their power play – once the third-best in the league – plummeted to 28th. They converted just 17.6% of chances compared to 26.4% the previous season. That’s like going from a Ferrari to a broken-down Pinto. The regression hit virtually every key player:

• Artemi Panarin: Down from 120 points to 89

• Mika Zibanejad: Dropped from 72 points to 62

• Adam Fox: Decreased from 73 points to 61

• Vincent Trocheck: Fell from 77 points to 59

• Chris Kreider: Declined from 75 points to 30

On the defensive end, things weren’t any better. The Rangers ranked 19th in goals against and 27th in shots against per game. Poor Igor Shesterkin faced more rubber than a tire factory, seeing more shots than any other goaltender in the league. Remember that resilient team from the previous season? The one that recorded 28 comeback victories? They vanished into thin air. This new version didn’t win a single game when trailing by multiple goals until April 14. By then, it was way too late. Drury tried the classic mid-season trade approach to spark improvement. J.T. Miller arrived from Vancouver on January 31. The bounce lasted about as long as a snowflake in July. Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey were shipped to Colorado on March 1, another sign of a sinking ship.

Why Laviolette didn’t last beyond two seasons

The official elimination came on April 12 with a 7-3 beatdown by Carolina. The Rangers finished fifth in the Metropolitan Division, six points shy of the final wild card spot. Not even close enough to call it a near miss. This collapse wasn’t just bad – it was historically bad. The Rangers joined an exclusive club as just the fourth team to miss the playoffs the season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy. Their company in this hall of shame included the 2014-15 Bruins and 2007-08 Sabers.

Behind the scenes, frustration had been building for months. Multiple players expressed annoyance with lineup decisions. Calvin de Haan, Zac Jones, and Kaapo Kakko publicly griped about being healthy scratches. When players start complaining to the media, you know the communication in the locker room has broken down. The team constantly struggled protecting the net front and looked completely lost defending against rush chances. Young players got the shortest end of the stick. Top prospect Gabe Perreault sat out three straight games as a healthy scratch while the team was in freefall. If you’re losing anyway, why not let the kid play? This pointed to deeper issues with player development.

Laviolette left with a 94-59-11 regular-season record over two seasons. His NHL coaching resume still shines with 846 career wins, the seventh-most in league history. The guy clearly knows how to coach – just not this particular team. And with that, Laviolette became the third consecutive coach fired under Drury’s management. I’m starting to think Drury collects fired coaches like some people collect postage stamps. The pattern is painfully clear – initial success followed by a quick hook when things go south. For Drury, this hire represents his most critical decision yet. The organization desperately needs stability after three coaching changes in four years. The question is, does Drury have the patience to let any coach actually build something sustainable?