The Rangers look set to announce that Alain Vigneault will be the next coach of the New York Rangers, allowing Glen Sather to have his coach in place before the upcoming NHL Draft.  Vigneautl and the Rangers are reportedly working out the contract, but an announcement would appear likely in the next few days.

Vigneault travelled to New York to meet with Jim Dolan, after having impressed Glen Sather in an interview last week.  The interview appears to have cut short the search, after the Rangers also gained permission to talk to Dallas Eakins – who has since taken over the Edmonton Oilers top job, Lindy Ruff, Mark Messier and most recently John Stevens.

If the reports prove to be true, it also might go some way to explaining Mark Messier‘s less than enthusiastic response to questions about his own coaching aspirations yesterday to the NY Post.

Vigneault will become the Rangers’ 34th coach, or 42nd if you count second and third stints.  The Rangers will be the third team he’s been Head Coach of, following on with stints in Montreal and Vancouver, where he’s coached the past seven seasons.  He also was an assistant with the Ottawa Senators.

Arron Asham has played for Vigneault in Montreal, while Taylor Pyatt played under him in Vancouver putting together career highs of 23 goals and 37 points.