Alain Vigneault is headed for the bright lights of New York to coach the Rangers. Vigneault was fired by the Canucks after his team was swept right out of the first round of the playoffs by the San Jose Sharks. He made the playoffs six of the seven years he coached the team reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011, where the Canucks lost to the Bruins.
Vigneault is taking over for John Tortorella, who was fired by the Rangers after the team lost their second round playoffs series in five games to the Boston Bruins. Tortorella is thought to be more of a defensive-minded coach while Vigneault is more of an offensive coach. The Rangers only gave up 2.25 goals per game, which was fourth best in the regular season. The only scored 2.62 goals per game in the regular season and that put them in the middle of the pack. (NHL.com story on Vigneault heading to New York)
The Dallas Stars have found their next coach in Lindy Ruff. Ruff was fired by the Buffalo Sabres on March 20 after a disappointing year by his team. He coached for 15 seasons in Buffalo. He had eight appearances in the playoffs including three to the Eastern Conference Finals. Ruff took the team to the Stanley Cup Finals where they lost, ironically, to the Dallas Stars.
The Stars fired their coach, Glen Gulutzan, after another disappointing year. The team has high hopes coming into the season with the emergence of Jamie Benn, and the free agent signing of Jaromir Jagr. The team eventually traded Jagr to the Boston Bruins after it realized it wouldn't be making the playoffs. The Stars haven't been to the playoffs since 2008. (NHL.com story on Ruff hiring)
The Phoenix Coyotes have re-signed their coach, Dave Tippett, to a long-term contract. His contract was set to expire on July 1st. He took over in 2009 after the Coyotes fired Wayne Gretzky. In 2011, the Coyotes won the Pacific Division for the first time and made a run deep into the playoffs before losing to the Los Angeles Kings, the defending champions. The Coyotes have been to the playoffs three of the four years that Tippett has been the coach. (NHL.com story on Tippett staying in Phoenix)
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