Just a couple of days after Ulf Samuelsson was pegged as the first assistant coach – he was at the prospect camp today, but we’re still awaiting for an official announcement – Alain Vigneault appears to have added a second assistant, former Blue Jackets Head Coach Scott Arniel.
Arniel was head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets for one and a half years from 2010-12, before he was replaced at the midpoint of the season, compiling a 45-60-18 record. He also was an assistant for the Buffalo Sabres from 2002-2006, and has been an assitant and head coach in the AHL, most recently with the Chicago Wolves last year.
Seven of the current Rangers roster have former experience with Arniel, with Rick Nash, Anton Stralman, John Moore, Derek Dorsett and Derrick Brassard playing under him in Columbus, while Taylor Pyatt and Martin Biron were in Buffalo when he was an Assistant Coach.
Interestingly Pyatt has previously been coached by all three of the Rangers’ coaching staff: Alain Vigneault (Vancouver), Ulf Samuelsson (Phoenix) and Scott Arniel (Buffalo).
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