Rangers will get exactly whom they wanted in David Quinn

Two observations about the Rangers’ search that yielded David Quinn as the club’s presumptive next head coach, pending an announcement of a signed-and-sealed contract that should come by Tuesday.

First, it was not extensive. Ownership and management were clear on the traits they were seeking in Alain Vigneault’s successor. Primary among them are the ability to communicate with, teach, develop and motivate younger players while taking a more hands-on approach to team building and leadership. As such, general manager Jeff Gorton and Chris Drury zoned in early on BU’s Quinn and University of Denver’s Jim Montgomery.

The Rangers did not consider veteran NHL coaches Bill Peters, Darryl Sutter, Dave Tippet or Dan Bylsma. They did not wait for AHL Marlies’ coach Sheldon Keefe, did not speak to Toronto assistant D.J. Smith and did not wait for Washington coach Barry Trotz’s contract to expire.

Second, a search was necessary because the Rangers did not have an internal candidate ready to take over the team. This is the end result of keeping Ken Gernander on the job with the AHL Wolf Pack long after it became apparent that management did not consider him an option to coach the Rangers. Keith McCambridge has been behind the bench for one year. Ideally, an organization should be able to promote coaches from within just as it does players.

The first three coaches to move to the NHL from the NCAA were legends. The Red Wings weren’t ready in 1970-71 for Cornell’s Ned Harkness, who lasted just 38 games (12-22-4) before he was deposed. Then America’s coach, Herb Brooks, arrived on Broadway in 1981-82 from Minnesota by way of Davos, Switzerland. A year later, Wisconsin’s Badger Bob Johnson made the jump to Calgary. More than three decades passed until another college coach made the same journey, North Dakota’s Dave Hakstol to Philadelphia in 2015-16.

see also

Rangers closing in on hiring B.U.s David Quinn as coach

The foggy conditions have lifted. David Quinn, the B.U. coach…

But if any team in the NHL is programmed for success under a coach out of the NCAA, it’s the Rangers, who could have as many as 10 guys on Broadway next season who played college, with a handful more knocking on the door. Perhaps that’s why they leaned so early toward Quinn and Montgomery, who chose an offer from Dallas rather than wait for one from Gorton that might not have come.

Patience will be a virtue for the Rangers’ next coach. We’re told by an individual who has known Quinn for three decades that he owns that trait. Also that Quinn, “has a presence and the kind of swagger that plays well in New York.”

Quinn is expected to sign a five-year contract worth in the neighborhood of $2.4 million per year. It is unclear whether Quinn, who went 105-68-21 in five years at BU and took Jack Eichel’s freshman 2014-15 Terriers to the Frozen Four final before losing to Providence, has spoken to the team or otherwise informed players of his decision to leave. Quinn’s contract at BU had two years remaining. It is unknown whether the Rangers or Quinn owe the school compensation.

Absent NHL coaching experience other than the one year (2012-13) he spent behind the Colorado bench as an assistant to Joe Sacco, Quinn likely will have experienced assistants by his side. At least he should. It is also important, though, for Quinn to have at least one person on the coaching staff with whom he has a personal connection.