New York Rangers Rumors: Another Prominent Name Becomes Coaching Candidate

The New York Rangers' coaching search is still ongoing, although a respected veteran bench boss was recently named as the favorite to land the gig. 

But that hasn't stopped the Blueshirts from asking for—and obtaining—permission to speak with newly-fired Nashville Predators coach John Hynes. 

#NYR has been granted permission to speak to ex-Preds coach John Hynes, The Post has learned. https://t.co/LO5bWLdOZg via @nypostsports

— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) May 31, 2023

Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury was teammates with Hynes at Boston University in the 1990s. Hynes has a somewhat middling career mark in the regular season behind the bench in the NHL, with a .525 winning percentage. 

But it's his playoff record that has Rangers fans foaming at the mouth about the prospect of him taking over the Blueshirts' job. In four different playoff appearances (with the New Jersey Devils and the Predators), Hynes has a 4-15 record (.211), losing each of those four series. 

Safe to say that the hiring of Hynes would not be a popular move amongst the denizens of Madison Square Garden, and they've taken to Twitter in droves to slam the idea.

Yah if Hynes is hired I don’t think I’ll be able to watch Rangers games anymore. I refuse to support blatant stupidity #NYR

— Master Sh0tgun (@ShottyFlynn) May 31, 2023

Argument against hiring Hynes: His entire body of work as an NHL coach where he has been abysmal at every stop.

Argument for hiring Hynes: He’s friends with Drury.

Such an incredibly difficult decision here!

— Anthony Sellitti (@AntSellit) May 31, 2023

Drury is going to lose me if he hires Hynes. What exactly has Hynes accomplished in almost a decade behind the bench to warrant consideration here?

— AgileNYR (@AgileRanger39) May 31, 2023

Hatred of the idea of John Hynes has united this fanbase like nothing else I've ever seen, this might be the closest Rangers Twitter ever comes to peace on this app

— Billy McInerney (@wmcine) May 31, 2023

Photo: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports