It sounds like all of David Quinn’s Rangers yelling is being heard
Here was something different. (Not.) David Quinn interrupting practice, and more than once, to inform the Rangers that their coach was not especially pleased with the way they were working. On this day, the pithy phrases even included a “Congratulations; we won a game!”
Fact is, the Bostonian’s exclamations have become the soundtrack to the season.
“But you know what, he’s really not yelling at anyone, he’s talking very loudly so everyone can hear him,” 11-year veteran Marc Staal said before the Blueshirts embarked on a four-game trip that commences in Chicago on Thursday and continues with a swing through L.A., San Jose and Anaheim.
“It might not be fun if you’re on the other end of it, but we all know that it’s being done constructively, so that we get better as a team and as individuals. It takes time to break bad habits. He is still trying to instill good ones. He expects us to practice the same way he expects us to play. I get it. Everyone should.”
Quinn has not been abusive. His messages are not personal. He’s coaching. Assistants Lindy Ruff, David Oliver and Greg Brown are coaching. That is what they are paid to do.
“If we’re not doing a drill properly, he’ll blow it down and explain it and he’ll do that as often as necessary until we get it right,” Staal said. “It’s different for the guys who have been here for a while, because AV [Alain Vigneault] didn’t do that, but I don’t think anyone should take it the wrong way.”
So far, it seems as though the messages are being received as intended, loud and clear. But if the repeated interruptions/corrections are necessary and continue deep into the season?
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“Maybe ask me again then,” said Staal, who was laughing through his answer.
The Blueshirts are winless in their three away from the Garden, having picked up one point in an OT loss to Washington after opening-weekend back-to-back defeats to Buffalo and Carolina, respectively.
“I think it gives us an opportunity to grow,” Quinn said. “It will test our mettle.”
The Rangers have one other four-game trip late in the season, to western Canada and Minnesota. Those four matches are packed into six days. This journey concludes with a flight home on Nov. 2.
“It’s unusual for a trip to be this long,” Staal said. “The group has gotten to know each other a lot better the last couple of weeks just around the room, but being on the road is always good to develop camaraderie.
“There’s nothing better than playing well and winning on the road and then getting on the bus to share it.”
The Blueshirts placed winger Matt Beleskey, fully recovered from the shoulder injury he sustained during an exhibition game fight, on waivers. He will be assigned to the AHL Wolf Pack if, as expected, he clears on noon Thursday. Beleskey has carried a $1.9 million cap charge while on NHL Injured Reserve. That will be reduced to $875,000 while he is in the AHL.