Rangers Coach Hunt 13: It's Starting to Seem a Little Mess-y

I was originally of the opinion that if the Rangers wanted Mark Messier to be their new coach, they would have announced it right away.   But as things are developing. or not developing, it's starting to look like they are stumbling into having him as their new coach after all.     Dallas Eakins was the guy everyone wanted, and the Rangers had permission to speak to him, but he got hired before they could.   Then they spoke with Alain Vigneault but didn't offer him a deal, and now it looks like Dallas might.  On Vigneault, he's a good coach with a nice style, but apparently he is unforgiving with rookies and the   Rangers are going to have a lot of rookies and young players for the foreseeable future  So perhaps he's not the best fit.

Lindy Ruff only got a phone interview.    So unless the Rangers have an understanding with Tippet or one of the Finals assistants, it's looking like Mess.   And btw, don't think the Nets hiring of the similarly inexperienced Jason Kidd and its position on the back pages of the local sports pages isn't appealing to Ranger ownership.   It is.   So, with some trepidation, I am now expecting Messier to be the new coach.  Wish the math looked different, but Dallas Eakins was the guy to get and we didn't get him.