Kris Knoblauch finally got his shot as a head coach in the NHL.
With Jay Woodcroft’s ouster as coach in Edmonton amid the club’s dismal 3-9-1 start to the season, Knoblauch — the head coach of the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, since 2019-20 — has been handed the reins by Oilers general manager Ken Holland.
“First of all, just like to thank … Ken and Jeff [Jackson] for reaching out and believing in me for this unbelievable opportunity,” Knoblauch told reporters at his introductory press conference on Sunday. “But also would like to thank the New York Rangers for giving me this opportunity. I know a lot of teams would not have allowed [me] to do that, allow their head coach in the American League to go out. To the Rangers, Mr. [James] Dolan, Chris Drury and Ryan Martin, I’m very appreciative of what they allowed me to do.”
The Rangers were clearly supportive of Knoblauch moving on or the organization simply would not have given him permission to be considered. Knoblauch didn’t have much of a path to the NHL bench in New York after getting passed over the past two head-coaching searches.
The Oilers have hired Rangers AHL coach Kris Knoblauch as their new head coach. APHe will now get to coach Edmonton stars Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, who Knoblauch coached in the Ontario Hockey League with the Erie Otters. According to multiple reports, McDavid’s history with Knoblauch played a role in the hire.
This will be Knoblauch’s first head-coaching gig in the NHL after the 45-year-old served as an assistant in Philadelphia for two seasons from 2017-2019.
Knoblauch compiled a 119-90-32 record with the Wolf Pack, which is off to a strong 7-3-1 start this season.
Jonathan Quick returned to game action Sunday night and backstopped the Rangers to a 4-3 shootout win over the Blue Jackets, after the backup netminder was not available last contest due to an undisclosed upper-body injury. The 37-year-old made 25 saves in the victory.
Despite participating in the entirety of the morning skate on Sunday, Igor Shesterkin did not dress as he continues to work through what the team has called minor soreness.
Louis Domingue served as backup.
Sunday night marked the fourth game for which Shesterkin hasn’t been available.
Jonathan Quick will return to nets for the Rangers on Sunday night. APThe Rangers now begin a five-day break in game action, so the club presumably wants to give Shesterkin ample time to heal before he makes his next start.
Quick’s 1.77 goals-against average ranked third in the NHL entering Sunday night’s game, while his .935 save percentage was good for fourth.
