Rangers hire Grant Potulny to coach AHL team in Hartford

NEW YORK (AP) — Grant Potulny is leaving Northern Michigan to become the American Hockey League coach of the New York Rangers in Hartford, Connecticut.

Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury announced the hiring of Potulny, 44, on Thursday.

Kris Knoblauch started last season as coach of the Wolf Pack, but left in early November to take over as coach of the Edmonton Oilers after Jay Woodcroft was fired. Knoblauch led the Oilers to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final before losing 2-1 to the Florida Panthers on Monday night.

Steve Smith was Hartford’s interim head coach for the remainder of last season.

Potulny spent the last seven seasons at Northern Michigan, leading the Wildcats to a 128-113-17 record. His teams reached the Central Collegiate Hockey Association finals in 2020–21 and 2022–23.

A native of Grand Forks, North Dakota, he began his coaching career as an assistant with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. During his eight-year tenure, they won the Big Ten regular season championship in four straight seasons, as well as the Big Ten championship in 2014-15. The team advanced to the NCAA championship game in 2013-14.

Potulny has also been a member of Team USA’s coaching staff in several international tournaments.

A fifth-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in the 2000 NHL Draft, Potulny played five seasons in the minor leagues before beginning his coaching career. He also played four seasons at Minnesota, captaining the team the last two seasons, helping them win back-to-back national titles in 2001-02 and 2002-03.

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The Associated Press