Rangers fire two assistant coaches after Gerard Gallant breakup
The Rangers coaching staff continues to undergo reconstruction.
Assistant coaches Mike Kelly and Jim Midgley, who were brought on by the now-ex-Blueshirts bench boss Gerard Gallant, have been relieved of their duties, while Gord Murphy remains on staff unless the new head coach says otherwise, according to The Post’s Larry Brooks.
The club’s everlasting Director of Goaltending, Benoit Allaire, naturally will also continue in his role.
The additional updates to the Rangers coaching staff comes just three days after the organization and Gallant went their separate ways.
A disappointing first-round loss in the playoffs, coupled with feedback from exit interviews with players and Gallant himself, led to the dismissal of the 59-year-old coach, who led the Rangers to 110- and 107-point campaigns during his two seasons in New York.
Murphy, who worked as an assistant for Gallant with the Blue Jackets for parts of three seasons from 2003-04 into 2006-07, handled the Rangers defense during his time under Gallant.
He was promoted from his associate head coaching position with the team’s AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, shortly after the club hired Gallant in June 2021.
The Rangers have fired assistant coaches Mike Kelly (l.) and Jim Midgley (second from right) after parting ways with Gerard Gallant (second from left.) Gord Murphy (r.) remains on the staff. NHLI via Getty Images
The Rangers power play was entrusted to Kelly, who led it to a 24.6 percentage in the last two seasons, which is good for fourth in the NHL over that span.
Kelly also served as an assistant on Gallant’s staff in Florida, Vegas and with the QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs.
Gallant told The Post that he knew Midgley for 15 years before bringing him on the Rangers staff.
Midgley, who was in charge of the Rangers forward group, gained his first professional coaching experience in North America during his two seasons in New York.
Rangers assistant coach Mike Kelly was let go. Getty Images
Jim Midgley (r.) with Gerard Gallant (l.) behind the Rangers bench. Getty Images
Allaire, who first joined the Blueshirts in 2004, will be inherited by his sixth head coach with the franchise.
He has been a staple for Rangers netminders over the years and he has developed the same bond with Igor Shesterkin, who described him as the “goalie guru.”
Source: New York Post
